Section 2
Classical Greece
The Classical Age
Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• Athenian Democracy
• The Persian Wars
• Map: Persian Wars
• The Golden Age of Athens
• Faces of History: Pericles
• The Peloponnesian War
• Map: Greece Before the Peloponnesian War
• Quick Facts: Causes and Effects of the Peloponnesian War
Section 2
Classical Greece
The Classical Age
Main Idea
The Classical Age of ancient Greece was marked by great
achievements, including the development of democracy, and by
ferocious wars.
Reading Focus
• What were the characteristics of Athenian democracy?
• How did the Greeks manage to win the Persian Wars?
• What advances were made in the golden age of Athens?
• What led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?
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Classical Greece
Athenian Democracy
The prosperity of Athens was due in large part to its stable and
effective government. That government was the world’s first
democracy, a form of government run by the people.
Beginnings
• Athens, birthplace
of democracy
• Not always
democratic city
• First ruled by kings
• Later ruled by
aristocrats who had
money and power
Reform
• Most Athenians
poor, had little
power over lives
• Gap between rich,
poor led to conflict
• Official named
Draco reformed
laws
Draconian Laws
• Draco thought way
to end unrest was
through harsh
punishment
• Belief reflected in
Draco’s laws
• Harshness of laws
worsened dispute
between classes
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Solon and Peisistratus
Revision of Draconian Laws
• 590s BC, lawmaker Solon
revised laws again, overturned
Draco’s harshest laws
• Outlawed debt slavery; tried to
reduce poverty by encouraging
trade
• Allowed all Athenian men to
take part in assembly that
governed city, serve on juries
• Only wealthy men could run for,
hold political office
Peisistratus
• Solon’s laws relieved tension
for a time, did not resolve it
• Tensions flared again after a
few decades
• 541 BC, politician Peisistratus
took advantage of conflict,
seized power
• Peisistratus a tyrant
• Claimed to rule for good of
people
• Violent but popular
• People liked fact that he pushed
aristocrats out, increased trade
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Classical Greece
Cleisthenes
Cleisthenes took over Athens after Peisistratus
• Reforms set stage for Athenian democracy
• Cleisthenes broke up power of noble families
– Divided Athens into 10 tribes based on where people lived
– Made tribes, not families, social groups, basis for elections
– Each tribe elected 50 men to serve on Council of 500, proposed
laws
– Each tribe elected one general to lead Athenian army
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The Nature of Athenian Democracy
• As democracy, Athens ruled by the people, but not all people able to
take part in government; only about 10 percent of total population
• Only free male Athenians over age 20 who had completed military
training allowed to vote
• Women, immigrants, children, slaves had no role in government
Athenian Government
• Those allowed to take part in government expected to:
–
Vote in all elections
–
Serve in office if elected
–
Serve on juries
–
Serve in military during war
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Height of Democracy
Three Main Bodies
• Athenian democracy consisted
of three main bodies—
• Assembly
• Council of 500
• Courts
Council of 500
• Created by Cleisthenes
• Wrote laws to be voted on by
full assembly
Assembly
• Included everyone eligible to
serve in government
• All present voted on laws, all
important decisions
• Called direct democracy
Courts
• Complex series of courts
• Members could number up to
6,000
• Chosen from the assembly
• Heard trials, sentenced
criminals
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Special Roles
Elected Officials
Archon
• Most governing done by
assembly
• The archon acted as head of
both assembly, Council of 500
• Some elected officials had
special roles
• Archons elected for term of one
year, but could be re-elected
many times
• Among elected officials,
generals who led city in war
• Another elected official, the
archon
• Public servant, could be
removed from office, punished if
failed to serve people well
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Analyze
What were the key features of Athenian
democracy?
Answer(s): direct democracy; only certain men
could vote; consisted of assembly, Council of 500,
and court system
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Classical Greece
The Persian Wars
In the early 400s BC, the Greek city-states came into conflict with the
vast Persian Empire, a larger, stronger opponent.
Causes of the Conflict
• Roots of Persian Wars lay in
region of Ionia, in what is now
Turkey
• Ionian city-states founded as
Greek colonies, fell under
Persian rule, 500s BC
– Ionian Greeks unhappy with
Persian rule
– Wanted independence
– Rebelled, 499 BC
Revenge
• Ionian Greeks asked fellow
Greeks for help
• Athens sent aid, ships
• Persians put down revolt
– Revolt made Persian emperor
Darius angry enough to seek
revenge
– Planned to punish Ionians’
allies, especially Athens, by
attacking Greek mainland
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First Invasion
The First Persian Invasion
• 490 BC, Persians set out to fulfill Darius’s plans for revenge
• Fleet carrying tens of thousands of Persian troops set out for Greece
• Came ashore near town of Marathon, not far from Athens
Persian Retreat
• Warned in advance, Greeks arrived at Marathon, caught Persians unloading
ships, charged in phalanx, tight rectangle formation
• Persians counterattacked, more Greeks closed in, Persians retreated
Marathon
• Legend says Athenian messenger ran from Marathon to Athens after battle to
announce Greek victory; died from exhaustion after delivering message
• Legend inspired modern marathon, 26-mile race commemorating dedication,
athleticism
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Preparations for a Second Invasion
•
•
•
•
•
Greek victory at Marathon shocked both Greeks, Persians
Athenians could not believe they had defeated stronger foe
Persians humiliated, furious
Darius planned second invasion, but died before invasion launched
Son Xerxes vowed revenge, continued to plan attack on Greece
Xerxes
Athenians
• 480 BC, 10 years after first
invasion, Xerxes set out for Greece
• Faced with invasion, Athenians
called on other Greek city-states to
help fight off Persians
• Hundreds of thousands of soldiers,
sailors, animals, weapons, supplies
• Greek accounts say Persian army
so huge took week to cross bridge
built into Greece
• Athens, bitter rival, agreed to help
• Had recently built large navy, took
charge of Greek fighting ships
• Sparta took charge of Greek armies
Classical Greece
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Second Invasion and Aftermath
The Greeks worried that they would not have time to prepare their
troops for battle. To slow down the Persians, a group of Spartans and
their allies gathered in a mountain pass at Thermopylae, through which
the Persians would pass to get into Greece.
The Second Persian Invasion
• Spartans held off entire Persian
army for several days
• Persians shown alternate path
through mountains; were able to
surround, kill Spartans
• Spartans’ sacrifice bought time for
Greeks’ defense
After Thermopylae
• Persians marched south to Athens,
attacked, burned city; needed fleet
to bring additional supplies
• Athenian commander lured fleet
into narrow strait
• Greek warships cut them to pieces
Persian army was no longer a match for the Greeks; and within a year
the Greeks had won the Persian Wars.
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Sequence
What events led to the Greek victory in the
Persian Wars?
Answer(s): Athens and Sparta allied to fight the
Persians; Spartans held off the Persians at
Thermopylae, allowing Athens to prepare; Persian
supplies were cut off when the Greek fleet
destroyed their ships; Spartans led the Greek army
to defeat the Persians at Plataea
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Classical Greece
The Golden Age of Athens
As leaders in the Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta became the two
most powerful, influential city-states in Greece. After the wars, Athens
entered a golden age as the center of Greek culture and politics.
Alliance
• After Persian Wars
city-states banded
together to defend
each other, punish
Persia
• Largest, richest of
alliance members
was Athens
Delian League
Increased Influence
• Alliance’s treasury
kept on islands of
Delos
• Some members
resented Athenian
dominance
• Alliance known as
Delian League
• Members who tried
to quit attacked by
league fleet, forced
back into alliance
• Athens controlled
ships, money
• League grew in
membership, power
• League became
Athenian empire
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Classical Greece
Rebuilding Athens
A City in Ruins
• People wanted to rebuild Athens after Persian Wars
• Some money for rebuilding came from within Athens
• Substantial amount came from treasury of Delian League
Collective Funds to Rebuild
• Other members of League not happy Athenians used collective funds to
rebuild city, but none powerful enough to stop Athens
• Rebuilding began at top, with acropolis, series of grand temples
Height of Culture
• Grandest temple, Parthenon, dedicated to goddess Athena
• Athenians expanded port, built new roads, constructed high walls around city
• Rebuilt Athens considered height of Greek culture, sophistication
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Classical Greece
The Age of Pericles
Much of the rebuilding of Athens was due to one man—Pericles, a
skilled politician and gifted public speaker.
Pericles
• 460s, elected one of Athens’
generals, became Athens’
most influential politician
• Great champion of democracy
– Introduced payment for those
who served in public offices,
on juries
– Encouraged Athenians to
introduce democracy
elsewhere
Patron of the Arts
• Commissioned building
Parthenon, other monuments
– Hired artists, sculptors to
decorate them
• Wanted Athens to be most
glorious city in Greece
– Believed it had best
government, noblest people,
monuments to prove
superiority
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Life in the Golden Age
Trade brought great wealth to Athens.
•
Merchants from other parts of world moved to city,
bringing own foods, customs
•
Athens very cosmopolitan as result
–
Grand festivals, public celebrations, events
–
Athletic games and city theaters
–
Athens was the heart of Greek culture
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Classical Greece
Draw Conclusions
What made the 400s a golden age in
Athens?
Answer(s): trade brought great wealth;
cosmopolitan city; city rebuilt; center of Greek
culture and politics
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Classical Greece
The Peloponnesian War
As the leader of the Delian League, Athens was the richest, mightiest
polis in Greece. Being rich and mighty brought many powerful rivals,
the greatest of which was Sparta, which wanted to end its dominance.
Peloponnesian
League
• Sparta head of
Peloponnesian
League, allied citystates
• Formed 500s BC,
to provide
protection, security
for members
Tension Built
• Tensions built
between Delian,
Peloponnesian
Leagues
• Mutual fear led to
war between
Athens, Sparta
War
• Athens feared
military might of
another league
• Sparta feared loss
of trading
• 431 BC, the two
declared war
• Lasted many years
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The Course of War
War in Greece
• Initially neither side gained much advantage
• Sparta, allies dominated land; Athens, allies dominated sea
• Athenians avoided land battles; neither side won more than minor victories
Plague and Peace
• 430, 429 BC, plague struck Athens, changed course of war
• Pericles, Athens’ leader through beginning of war, among dead
• After plague, fighting heated up until truce in 421 BC
Sparta’s Victory
• 415 BC, war broke out again; Sparta took to sea as well as land, destroyed
Athenian fleet; Athens surrendered 404 BC
• Peloponnesian War almost destroyed Athens; Sparta also exhausted by war
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Cycle of Warfare
After victory, Sparta’s army tried to act as Greece’s
dominant power
• Sparta’s wealth, resources badly strained, power worn down
• Spartans could not keep control of Greece
• City-state of Thebes defeated Sparta, could not maintain control
either
• Struggle for power led to long cycle of warfare that left all Greece
vulnerable to attack
• 340s BC, Macedonia, Greek-speaking kingdom to north, swept in,
took control of all Greece
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Identify Cause and Effect
What caused the Peloponnesian War?
Answer(s): mutual fear; Sparta feared Athens
would stop it from trading, Athens feared the
military might of the Peloponnesian League