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The Persian Wars: A Defining Moment in Greek History. What is the opposite of Greek? What does it take to make the Greeks unite against a common enemy?. Tonight’s Class. The Persian Wars, Part I Movie: Homer’s Odyssey Persian Wars, Part II. Key Questions for Today’s Lecture.
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The Persian Wars: A Defining Moment in Greek History What is the opposite of Greek? What does it take to make the Greeks unite against a common enemy?
Tonight’s Class • The Persian Wars, Part I • Movie: Homer’s Odyssey • Persian Wars, Part II
Key Questions for Today’s Lecture • Who are the Persians? • What are the causes of war? • What key events occur during the war? • Who wins the war and what are the consequences?
Who Are The Persians? • Absolute Rule of Kings • Poverty vs. Decadence • Excellence vs. Money
The Causes of War • Persians invaded Greece • 490 BC (Marathon) • 480-479 BC
Battle of Marathon- 490 BCE Countless Persians vs. 10,000 Athenians “The magnificent grove of Marathon can confirm his bravery – as well as the long-haired Persian – who remembers it well.” - Epitaph of Aeschylus Where were the Spartans?
The Consequences of War • History changes as a result of this battle • Athenians = great political confidence • Athenian wealth, greatness + power reflected in literature + building projects
Athens as a Naval Power • 482 BCE • Silver Mines • Aristides’s Plan • Themistocles’s resolve
The Madness of Xerxes • Bridge over the Hellespont • 40,000 hoplites + 366 ships • 200,000 + 1000 ships • Ships destroyed
Thermopylae – 480 BCE • Trap the army, destroy the fleet • 300 men, 2 days, one fight to the death • “Go tell them in Sparta, stranger, that we lie here obedient to their orders.” Simonides
Salamis – 480 BCE • Themistocles’s Brilliant Plan • Greek Fleet vs. Persian Fleet • Persia loses the battle
479 Battle of Plataea • Spartans win • But Athens still has naval superiority • Greeks win war, but lose internal unity
Sparta vs. Athens • Sparta won the deciding battle but . . . • Athens had the navy • 478 - Delian League • One vote each = democratic alliance
Why Is This A Defining Moment in Greek History? Athens - cultural center of the Greek World . . . with the common enemy vanquished, Greeks will fight amongst themselves.
Coming Next Week . . . • ATHENIAN LEADERSHIP • WOULD THE ATHENIANS HAVE ELECTED ARNOLD?