Cause & Effect in Greek History

Or

Why we don’t speak Farsi

Ionian Revolt• 499-493 BC

• The Greek cities occupied by the Persians in Asia Minor rose up against their Persian rulers.

• In some accounts, Darius is entirely unaware of the existence of the Athenians before the attack.

• The Ionians sack Sardis but the Persians counter-attack & the Ionians were defeated.

• Darius vows revenge on Athens.

Persian Wars• 490-448 BC

• Battle of Marathon- Greeks defeat the Persians

• Hellenic League- Greek city-states ally against Persia, with Sparta in charge of the army, & Athens over the navy.

• Battle at Thermopylae- Greeks defeated, but the Persian navy is heavily damaged.

• Battle of Salamis- Persians forced to withdraw after navy defeated by the Greeks.

Delian League• 478-431 BC

• Several city-states joined together for mutual protection against the Persians.

• Athens placed at the head because of her naval supremacy.

• Called the Delian League because its treasury was on the sacred island of Delos.

• Athens forces other league members do what is in its own best interest & creates, in essence, an Athenian Empire.

Age of Pericles• 495-429 BC • With the Persian threat gone, Athens enters a 50

year period of prosperity under Pericles – Golden age – classical Greek• Delian League money is used to rebuild the

temples & monuments of the city of Athens.• Athens becomes the artistic, cultural, intellectual,

& commercial center of the Greek world. • Many smart & interesting people are attracted to

Athens.– Socrates, Plato– Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, Sophocles– Herodotus, Demosthenes– Phidias, Myron

Delian League

Peloponnesian War – pg 124• 431-404 BC• Sparta forms the Peloponnesian League to

counter the Delian League.• Pericles has the people take refuge within the

walls of Athens.• A plague breaks out & kills many, including

Pericles.• Sparta turns to Persia to build itself a navy.• Athens surrenders following the destruction

of their fleet by the Spartan navy.

Macedonian Greece• 359-336 BC

• Greek city-states left weakened by the Peloponnesian Wars.

• Philip of Macedon brings most of the city-states under Macedonian control.

• 20 year old Alexander comes to power upon Phillip’s assassination.

• Alexander reasserts control over Greece & then turns east to expand into the Persian Empire.

Alexander’s Empire• 334-332 BC- Marches with 50,000 men through

Asia Minor and into Egypt where he is proclaimed pharaoh.

• 332-331 BC- Moves northward to Persia. Defeats Darius III at Gaugamela.

• 330-327 BC Proclaimed King of Persia after Darius is assassinated.

• 327-326 BC Alexander turns east crossing the Hindu Kush into India. His army refuses to go farther.

• 325-324 BC Alexander returns to Babylon & dies at age 33. His empire is divided amongst his generals.

Alexander’s Empire – pg. 141

Hellenistic Period• 330-23 BC• Alexander encourages his soldiers to marry

Persian women.• Blending of Greek, Egyptian, & Persian

cultures.• Represents a departure from earlier Greek

attitudes towards "barbarian" cultures.• New advances in science, medicine, & math,

as well as philosophy, art, & literature.• Influences Rome & later empires (including

us).