Section 5: The Expansion of Greece

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Section 5 The Expansion of Greece
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At first, the Greek city-states developed without
interference from the nearby empires of Southwest
Asia. Eventually, however, the mighty Persian
Empire entered into Greek affairs. In 546 B. C.
King Cyrus of Persia conquered the Greek colonies
on the western coast of Asia Minor. Cyrus
permitted these Greeks to keep their local
governments. Later rulers, however, tightened
Persian rule and raised taxes.
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I. The Persian Wars

• The Persian Wars were a series of conflicts
  between Greece and Persia lasting over 20 years

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I. The Persian Wars

• ca. 500 B.C. Athens helped Greek city-states in
  Asia Minor rebel against the Persians

Persian Infantry formation
Greek phalanx
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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• The Persian ruler Darius crushed the Greek
  revolts and invaded Greece

Darius the Great (c. 549 BC486 BC)
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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• Athens defeated the Persians at the Battle of
  Marathon in 490 B.C.

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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• 480 BC - Xerxes led the Persians against Greece
  city-states united to stop the Persians

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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• At the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans
  blocked the Persian army for three days

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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• Xerxes army slaughtered the Spartans and moved
  on to destroy Athens

Xerxes (519 BC-465 BC) was king of Persia from
486-465 BCE
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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• Athens leader Themistocles tricked Xerxes into
  attacking in the Salamis Strait and sank most of
  the Persian ships

Xerxes was sure of victory. He had his throne
placed on a hill overlooking the sea, in part to
savor his victory and in part so his commanders
would know that their king was watching them
The Battle of Salamis
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A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes

• 479 BC - Athens and Sparta joined forces,
  defeated the Persians at Plataea, and ended the
  Persian Wars

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B. The Results of the Persian Wars

• The Athenians rebuilt their city and by 450 BC
  had created an empire in the Aegean Sea

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B. The Results of the Persian Wars

• Persia was still a threat and 140 Greek
  city-states united under the Delian League, led
  by Athens

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II. The Age of Pericles

• From 461 BC to 429 BC Pericles brought Athens to
  the peak of its power

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II. The Age of Pericles

• Pericles brought stability and prosperity to the
  Delian League, but Athens made all the decisions

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III. The Peloponnesian War

• The Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta
  broke out in 431 B.C.

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III. The Peloponnesian War

• The stronger Spartan army invaded the Attica
  Peninsula and laid siege to Athens

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III. The Peloponnesian War

• The Athenian navy was stronger and was able to
  supply Athens by ship - the siege lasted for 27
  years

Control of the Aegean Sea ensured that the grain
ships could reach the Athenian harbor of the
Piraeus safely. The corridor guaranteed that
grain could be transported to the fortified city
without any threat from enemy infantry
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III. The Peloponnesian War

• Athens attacked Syracuse and suffered great
  losses, aristocrats seized power and internal
  fighting weakened Athens

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III. The Peloponnesian War

• Sparta united with the Persians and forced
  Athens surrendered in 404 BC

The Spartans attacked Athens and were soon joined
by the Persians. For awhile the Athenians hung
on. But in 405, their navy was destroyed in a
surprise attack, and by the next year the
situation was hopeless. In 404 BC, the Athenians
surrendered totally to the Spartans, who tore
down the walls of the city, barred them from ever
having a navy, and installed their own oligarchic
government, the Thirty. The Age of Athens, the
Age of Pericles, the Classical Age, the Athenian
Empire, had come to an end.