The document provides an overview of the Persian Wars between Greece and the Persian Empire. It describes how the Spartans and 300 soldiers held off the massive Persian invasion force at the Battle of Thermopylae. It then discusses how the Athenians, following the advice of Themistocles, evacuated the city by sea and defeated the Persian navy at the Battle of Salamis. This victory ended the Persian threat and allowed the Greek city-states to gain freedom and confidence. Athens in particular entered a Golden Age of cultural and intellectual achievement under the leadership of Pericles.

1. Greece vs. The Persian Empire
THE PERSIAN WARS

2. Danger of a helot revolt led to Sparta becoming a military
state.
Danger of a revolution among the poor farmers of Athens
led to it becoming a democracy.
The danger of invasion by the Persian army led to glory for
both Sparta and Athens!

3. The Persian Wars
 Persians attacked Greek city-states in Ionia
(Anatolia)
 Athens sent ships and soldiers to help the
Ionian Greeks.
 Persian King Darius vowed to destroy Athens
in revenge!
 Athenians defeat Persians AND defend their
city-state. Legend of Marathon!

4. The Persian Wars
 Ten years later. . . King Darius is dead-his son
Xerxes vows to CRUSH Greece!
 Sends ENORMOUS invasion force to Greece
by way of the Hellespont.
 Greek city-states divided. They are scared of
Xerxes and some want to sacrifice Athens to
the Persians.

5. The Persian Wars
 300 Spartans lead the way along with 7000
other Greek soldiers against the Persians.
 All 300 were killed at the Battle of
Thermopylae, but the set an example for ALL
Greeks.
 Persians headed for Athens. . .

6. The Persian Wars
 The citizens of Athens followed the advice of
Themistocles and evacuated the city to fight
at sea.
 Xerxes burned Athens and then met the
Greek navy in a narrow channel off the island
of Salamis .
 The Greek triremes battered the Persian
warships and 1/3 of fleet was lost.
 The Spartans defeated the rest of the Persian
army at Platea.

7. The Persian Wars-Results
 Persian threat is ended.
 Greek city-states have a new sense of
confidence and freedom.
 Athens THRIVES!
 Delian League-led by Athens (140 city-states)
 Drove Persians from surrounding territory
 Athens enters its GOLDEN AGE
 Complete # 2 on page 119

8. Athens’ Golden Age
 A time when Drama, Poetry, Art, Philosophy,
Architecture, and Science ALL reached new
heights!
 Age of Pericles 461-429 B.C.

9. Pericles
• Athens’ leading citizen.
• 495-429 BC
• Politician, orator, general
• Was also stoic, aloof, handsome,
and engaging.
• Also had a large, oddly shaped
head, which is why all his
portrayals have that helmet on.

10. Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles
 Three Goals for Athens
1) To strengthen Athenian Democracy
2) To hold and strengthen the empire
3) To glorify Athens

11. Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles
 Three Goals for Athens
1) To strengthen Athenian Democracy
 increased the number of paid public
officials-even the poorest could serve if
elected or chosen by lot
 Direct Democracy-citizens rule directly, not
through a representative
 Look at the chart on p. 120-Answer
questions 1 & 2 with your partner.

12. Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles
 Three Goals for Athens
2) To hold and strengthen the empire
 Pericles wanted to build wealth and power
of Athens
 Built powerful navy for safety and trade.

13. Athens’ Golden Age-Pericles
 Three Goals for Athens
3) To glorify Athens
 Pericles used money from Delian League to
buy gold, ivory, and marble.
 Built Parthenon-all without the approval of
the Delian League.

14. The Parthenon

15. Its main function was to house the grand statue of Athena

16. • In 1687, the Venetians were fighting the Ottoman Empire
in Athens.
• Unsurprisingly, the Ottomans had fortified the
acropolis and were holding out there.
• They used the Parthenon to store gunpowder (great
idea!). A Venetian cannonball hit the Parthenon,
detonated the gunpowder, and blew up a good chunk
of the temple.
• Most of the temple lay in ruins.
• In 1806, Lord Elgin brought many of the sculptures to
London (he sawed them off). They’re now known as
the Elgin Marbles.

19. •Read “A Voice from the Past on
page 121.
•Discuss this question with your
partner. . . How accurate do you
consider Pericles’ statement that
Athenian democracy was in the
hands of “the whole people”?
•THEN complete #2 of the section
assessment on page 125.

20. Greek Theatre
Pericles invested a great deal of money into the glorification
of Athens. . .
Theatre
• It was during the golden age that the great playwrights
lived
• Tragedy: Serious drama-love, hate, war, betrayal.
• Tragedy: Always featured a HERO with a tragic flaw.
• Comedy: Contained slapstick and crude humor.
• Comedy: Satires-made fun of almost everyone in Classical
Greece.

21. Greek Art
 Greek sculptors during the golden age aimed
to create figures that were graceful, strong,
and perfectly formed.
 Faces showed neither laughter nor anger,
only serenity.
 Also tried to capture grace of human body in
motion.
 Order, balance, and proportion-Classical Art

22. Greek Art

23. Greek Philosophy
 Socrates
 Plato
 Aristotle
 Pages 124 & 125
 “Lovers of Wisdom”
 Who was he? What is he known for? What
were his views about government? Lasting
contribution? Famous quote?

25. Athens vs.Sparta
THE PELOPONNESIAN WARS

26. The Peloponnesian Wars
 Tensions had been building for years as
Athens had grown. Leaders in both city-states
wanted war b/c they believed they
would win.
 Sparta had land advantage
 Athens had sea advantage
 Pericles’ strategy was to avoid land battles
and wait to strike from the sea.

27. The Peloponnesian Wars
 Spartans march into Athenian territory.
 They burned the local food supply
 Athenians were safe inside walls of city-state
 Ships could still bring food from other
colonies.
 Two events spelled eventual disaster for
Athens. . .

28. Sparta gains the edge. . .
 A PLAGUE! A plague killed between 1/3 and
2/3 of the population.
 Pericles also died from the plague.
 Assembly sends huge fleet of 27,000 soldiers
to Syracuse, one of Sparta’s wealthiest allies.
 Suffered TOTAL destruction.
 Athens surrendered in 404 B.C.E

29. War brings change. . .
 Athens loses its short-lived empire, power,
and wealth
 People began to lose confidence in
democratic governments
 Weak, corrupt, traitorous rulers