Section Three : Classical Greece

1. Section Three: Classical Greece

2. Objectives • Examine the Age of Pericles, when Athens became the center of Greek culture. • Analyze how the creation of an Athenian empire led to war with Sparta.

4. I. The Challenge of Persia • The Ionian Greek cites in western Asia Minor revolted against the Persians in 499 B.C. • Darius, the Persian ruler, sought revenge

5. Persian Empire

6. The Challenge of Persia • Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, only 26 miles from Athens • Xerxes, Persian king vowed revenge

7. Xerxes

8. The Challenge of Persia • A Greek force of about 9 thousand held off the Persian army for two day at the pass of Thermopylae • The 3 hundred Spartans in the Greek army were especially brave • The swifter Greek navy outmaneuvered the Persian ships & defeated their navy

11. II. The Growth of the Athenian Empire • Formed the Delian League, a defensive alliance headquartered on the island of Delos • Expelled the Persians from all Greek city-states • Athenians created an empire

12. The Growth of the Athenian Empire • Under Pericles 461 to 429 B.C. • Expanded its empire • Democracy & culture thrived • *Age of Pericles, saw the height of Athenian power & brilliance

13. Pericles

14. III. The Age of Pericles • Direct democracy, the people participated in government decision making through mass meetings • Every male citizen could participate & vote on major issues • Most residents were not citizens

15. Thucydides : Pericles' Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War • Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few.

16. Thucydides : Pericles' Funeral Oration from the Peloponnesian War • Then, again, our military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries. Our city is thrown open to the world, though and we never expel a foreigner and prevent him from seeing or learning anything of which the secret if revealed to an enemy might profit him.

17. The Age of Pericles • Made lower-class male citizens eligible for public office & paid office holders • Developed ostracism to protect themselves from overly ambitious politicians • Used the Delian League’s treasury to rebuild Athens

18. The Age of Pericles • Art, architecture & philosophy flourished • “School of Greece”

19. Pericles in the Parthenon

20. IV. The Great Peloponnesian War • Greek world divided between the Athenian Empire & Sparta • Great Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C. • The Athenians stayed behind their walls

21. The Great Peloponnesian War • 430 B.C. a plague broke out in Athens • 1/3 of the people were killed • Pericles died in 429 B.C.

22. The Great Peloponnesian War • Athenians fought on for about 25 years • *Athens was finally defeated in 405 B.C. • Navy defeated & walls torn down

24. The Great Peloponnesian War • War weakened the Greek city-states • Sparta, Athens & Thebes struggled for domination • Ignored the growing power of Macedonia

25. V. Daily Life in Classical Athens • Only male citizens had political power • Foreigners were protected by laws & shared some responsibilities • Athens had about 100,000 slaves

26. A. The Athenian Economy • Based largely on farming & trade • Grapes & olives • Imported 50 to 80% of its grain

27. B. The Family & the Role of Women • Could participate in religious festivals, but not public life • Could not own property & always had a male guardian • Expected to be a good wife, bear children & keep up the household

28. The Family & the Role of Women • Girls did not get a formal education & married around 14 or 15