Persian Wars, Age of Pericles,
Peloponnesian Wars
• Persia: Modern day Iran
• Asia Minor: Present day Turkey
Cause of Persian Wars
• Greeks in Asia Minor begin rebelling against
the Persians.
• Athenians assist the Greeks in Asia Minor
• This upsets the Persians
• Darius: (Ruler of the Persians) punishes
Athens by moving his army to attack Greek
Mainland
Details of Persian Wars
• Battle of Marathon
– Persians outnumbered the Athenians, however the Athenians pulled through
and beat the Persians
• Peace for 10 yrs
• Darius’s son Xerxes took over and again began to attack Greece
– City states united to conquer Persians
– Battle of Thermopylae
• 300 Spartans fought the Persians there, they were largely outnumbered, but fought hard
for 3 days. They fought until every last one of them were dead.
• because of their bravery, it allowed the other city states time to prepare their forces.
– Persians move towards Athens
• Themistocles (leader of Athens) ordered everyone to flee the city
• Persians destroyed the city of Athens
– Battle of Salamis Strait
– Themistocles tricked the Persian navy into attacking the Athenian Navy in this narrow
straight
– The Persians again outnumbered the Athenian Navy, but the Athenian ships were more
maneuverable in the narrow straight and Athens was able to sink many of the Persian
ships and win the battle
– Athens and Sparta join forces
• Finally Athens and Sparta joined forces and put an end to Xerxes and the Persian wars
Results of the war
– Greek city states united
• Delian League:
–Created by Athens/ resembled our league of
nations
– an alliance of city states with Athens as the
leader.
–Included 140 city states
–Each city state contributed money and ships
Age of Pericles
• Pericles became leader of Athens after Persian wars
• Under his rule Athens reached its peak in power
and wealth
• 5 changes for Athens under Pericles:
1. All male citizens except for the lowest class could hold
office
2. Officeholders were paid
3. Extended the Athenian empire
4. Established an Athenian Navy
5. Established a system of weights and measures for
Athens
Peloponnesian War
• Caused by tensions between Sparta and Athens
• Lasted 27 years
• Sparta attacked Athens first
• Athens retreated into their city and survived by
the Athenian navy transporting food to the city
• In the end Sparta conquered the Athenian navy
and starved Athens until it surrendered.
Essay
• What was the difference between the Persian
and Peloponnesian wars?
– Consider the cause of each war, the allies of each
war (who was fighting for which side), and the
outcomes of the wars
• Compare the difference between the relations
between the Greek city states during each
war?
Group Work
• What weapons can you create with your resources?
• What are you going to war for? (what resources are
you trying to get, are you assisting a neighboring
city state, or do you not agree with something a
neighboring city state is doing?)
• OR
• Is someone attacking you? (are they trying to free
your slaves? Obtain one your resources? Etc.)
• Who is going to fight? (Age range of men, will
women assist in the fighting, etc.)
• Finish your map if time