Athens
Northeast of Sparta
Athens was named for the goddess Athena
Parthenon
• Temple dedicated to Athena
• Built between 447 and 432 B.C.
• Represented the power and wealth of the
Athenian Empire
• Located on the Athenian acropolis
A Budding Democracy
600s B.C.- Early Athens was ruled by landowning
nobles
• Only adult male citizens took part in public life
• Women, slaves, and foreign residents had no
political power
Athens
• The economy was largely based on agriculture
and trade
o
o
o
grains, vegetables, fruit
grapes and olives were to make wine and olive oil
raised sheep and goats for wool and dairy products
• Most farmers owed the nobles money
• Many sold themselves into slavery to pay their debts
• Athenians began to rebel against the nobles
• Farmers demanded an end to all debts, along with land
for the poor
What was life in Athens like?
For GirlsAt home:
• Spinning
• Weaving
• Household duties
Some wealthy families paid for their daughters
tolearn to read, write, and play the lyre.
What was life in Athens like?
For BoysAthenian Schools taught:
• Reading
• Writing
• Arithmetic
• Sports
• Singing
• Lyre
Boys finished school at age 18 and became
citizens.
Olympics
• Only men could participate in and view the
Olympic games
• Athletes competed by themeselves, not as part of
a team
• Contests included running, jumping, wrestling,
and boxing
• Winning athletes won a crown of olive leaves and
brought glory to his city
Solon
594 B.C.- the nobles trusted Solon and
turned to him for help
Solon made several changes:
• Canceled all the farmers' debts
• Freed those who became slaves
• Allowed all male citizens to particpate in the
assembly and law courts
Peisistratus
560 B.C.- After solon, Peisistratus seized
power
He won the support of the poor by:
• Dividing large estates among landless
farmers
• Loaning money to the poor
• Giving jobs to the poor, such as building
temples
Cleisthenes
508 B.C. - Cleisthenes came to power
• Created a new council of 500 citizens to
help the assembly
• Assembly members had new powers
- they could debate matters openly
- hear court cases
- appoint army generals
Persian War
Who
Sparta and Athens VS Persia
What
Joined forces of Sparta and Athens
Where
Athens, Marathon, Salamis, Platea, Thermopylie
When
1st attack: 490bc; led by Darius
2nd attack: 480 bc; led by Xerxes
Why
Persian control of Greece
Greece during the Persian War
Persian War
Sparta
Athens
Joined forces with Athens
Battle of Marathon
Sent soldiers to fight
Battle of Plataea
Battle of Thermopylie
war tactics to give
advantage to Sparta with
less soldiers.
Strategy for victory:
work as a group.
Battle of Salamis
Strategy for victory:
Destroy the enemy
Delian League
Who
Athens and Greek city-states
What
A group that promised to defend its member against
the Persians.
Where
Island of Delos
When
479bc
Why
After the Persian War, the people of Greece wanted
to keep their lands free of invaders.
Greece under Delian League c.450 B.C.
The Age of Pericles
• 461bc
• Expansion of territory
• Peak of creativity, learning, politics and economy.
• Funeral Oration
• Concept of citizenship
• Direct democracy
"Athens is the school of Greece"
Greece during the Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War
Who
Sparta VS Athens
What
The Peloponnesian War
Named for Sparta's location in Peloponnesus.
Where
Peloponnesus: Sparta, Athens, Crete, Coast of
Aegean Sea
When
431-404 BCE
Why?
Sparta and neighboring city states were jealous
and suspicious of the wealth of Athens.
The Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
Year 1
Sparta
Athens
431BC Army surrounds
Athens on land.
Citizens are called to live within
the city walls, for protection, until
the fighting has ended.
Utilize Navy to deliver supplies.
Lost in hand-to-hand combat.
Still could not defeat Athens.
Disease and over crowding
removed 1/3 of the population.
429BC Pericles dies of disease.
Year 2
25 year standoff
Deal with Persia: Money
to fund shipbuilding in
exchange for Greek territory in
Asia Minor.
405BC Navy destroys that of
Athens and proceed to invade 404BC Athens surrenders to
the city.
Sparta
The Peloponnesian War
Pericles gives his famous speech, "The Funeral Oration".
He addresses and acknowledges the citizens Athens and
reminds them of the power they hold in their own government.
Pericles encourages the people of Athens to uphold their
democratic social order and take pride in their system and what
it represents.
Pericles has pride in his
country and wants to
encourage his fellow
Athenians to keep their heads
up after one year of war has
concluded.
The Peloponnesian War
Sparta
Over the next 30 years, Sparta held control of Greece.
During this time, multiple city-states grew displeased with the
Spartans.
The city-states rebelled, setting into motion another set of wars;
this time with Greeks against Greeks.