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P. 117-129 Persia vs. Greece Early Encounters 546-323 B.C.E.

Conquest of Lydida (546BCE) gained control of Greek cities Controlled by groups or individuals who collaborated w/ Persian gov. to keep Persian influence to a minimum & also so they could keep their power. All peace interrupted by Ionian revolt led to Persian Wars Darius sent a fleet to destroy Eretria & Athens. Eretia was taken, but Athens won the battle at Marathon. Everyone else gave in, but the Hellenic League (led by Spartans) fought Xerxes. However, at Thermopylae, Spartans & their king died so fellow Grecians could escape. They took Athens, but Athens navy defeated the Persians at Salamis. 477 BCE, Delian league was formed freed Greek cities from Persian rule. Athenians exploited their power. Took the money others contributed (instead of military) & used it to staff their navy. Rise of democracymale citizens had equal voices. W/ Athens strong navy, used it for commercial purposes. Piraeus most important commercial center in the E. Mediterranean. Built palaces, held festivals with dramas & comedies, etc. Sophists spread knowledge, playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, & Aristophanes produced dramas & comedies. Socrates (Socratic method)Plato(literate, Academy)Aristotle(tutored Alexander) 1/3rd of population was slaves Spartan women were more open & outspoken, the Athenian women were the opposite. Marriage was unequal in Athens, women had to assume stereotypical gender roles. They were accused of being naturally promiscuous. Peloponnesian War (431BCE) Athenians(Navy) vs Spartans(Land) Athens built a wall connecting it to Piraeus. Persians helped Spartans Athenians were defeated. Internal conflict allowed Persians to recoup old losses, but rebellions in Egypt, Cyprus, etc prevented from another PersianGreek invasion. Macedonia gains power as Philip defeated southern states & established the Confederacy of Corinth. control Greek city states. Set up an All-Greek campaign against Persia. Was murdered, and his son Alexander took over. Alexander simply replaced Persian officials with Greeks & Macedonians. Alexanders empire broke up into three parts after death. Hellenistic ageheavy influence of Greek culture. His empire was very heterogeneous, & diverse. Long distance trade, communications, rise of new institutions, new kinds of scholarship & science, cultivation of sophisticated tastes in art & literature, etc. The separated empire had unique challenged, & none of them rose to power above the others. The diverse populations & cultures caused problems with how they should govern the land. Ptolemiesruled Egypt, which was easily controlled since its only one ethnic group.

The Height of Athenian Power

Failure of the City-State & the Triumph of the Macedonians

The Hellenistic Synthesis

Seleucidslost land, mainly based around mesopotama. Both kingdoms encouraged immigration of Greeks. Get land for civil or military service. AntigonidMacedonian homeland, compact & homogeneous kingdom. Southern states met the threat of MacedoniaAchaean LeaguePeloponnese; maintained local autonomy but pooled resources & military. City of Alexandriamost grand, libraries, achievements in mathematics, science, astronomy, etc. Ancient plays were revived in theatres, had gymnasiums, baths, etc. Many people adopted Greek culture with open arms. Language+lifestyle.

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