Chapter 7: The Ancient Greeks

Lesson 2: Sparta and Athens: City-State Rivals

Bell Ringer

Explain the difference between a colony and a polis.

Political Changes Wealthy nobles seized power from kings

Farmers resented the nobles for their power

650 BC – farmers, merchants, and artisans called for political changes

Merchants and artisans were not citizens because they did not own land

Growing unrest led to rise of tyrants – someone who seizes power and rules with total authority

Common people supported tyrants for overthrowing nobles

Most Greeks still wanted a government run by the citizens

Tyrants ruled up until about 500 BC

Most city-states formed into:

Oligarchy – small group of the wealthy hold power

Democracy – all citizens share in running the government

Sparta: A Military Society Descended from the Dorians, invaded

Greece during Dark Ages

Economy was based on agriculture

Invaded and enslaved labors rather than set up colonies

Enslaved people were called helots

A Strong Military 650 BC – helots revolted

Sparta defeated the uprising

Developed into military society which stressed discipline

Citizens were more loyal and obedient

Prevented more revolts from helots

Boys were prepared for life of war Joined military at age 7

Learned to read, write, use weapons

Treated very harshly Meant to toughen them for battle

Spartan men joined army at age 20 Lived in barracks Were not allowed to live at home until

age 30 Did not retire until age 60

Spartan women enjoyed more freedom Learned sports Owned property Raised strong Spartan men

Sparta’s Government Ruled by an oligarchy

Two kings ruled together

Had little power but to lead army/religious ceremonies

The assembly

Included all male citizens over 30 years old

Made decision of war and peace

The council of elders

Most powerful

Decided on executions and exiles

Chose ephors – 5 people who enforced laws/collected taxes

Strict government discouraged free thinking

Thought learning could lead to revolt

Prevented travel outside of Sparta

Prevented study of literature and the arts

Remained poor farmers while other Greeks became wealthy

Athens: A Young Democracy Descended from Mycenaeans

Differed from Sparta greatly in government/society

Athenian Education Boys

Studied arithmetic, geometry, drawing, music, public speaking, and sports

Believed this would lead to smart, strong adults

At age 18, men were expected to be active in public affairs

Girls Educated by mothers at home

Learned spinning, weaving, household duties

Expected women to marry and care for children

Early Reforms 600 BC – farmers in Athens demanded end

to debt] Wanted land distributed to poor

594 BC – debt was ended and slaves freed All male citizens were given a say in making

laws

560 BC – a tyrant named Peisistratus took over government

Divided large estates among poor farmers

Gave loans to farmers for equipment

Hired poor to build temples and other structures

Encouraged people to worship Athena Held many festivals in her honor

Expanded these to athletic contests

Toward Democracy Cleisthenes takes over after

Peisistratus dies Made the Assembly the major governing

body Discussed issues freely, heard legal cases,

and appointed army officials

Created council of 500 citizens Helped assembly manage daily affairs

Introduced laws and controlled the treasury

Managed relations with other city-states

Every citizen had a chance to win lottery and be a member

Women, foreign-born men, and slaves were not considered citizens

Did not have the ability to take part of the democratic process

Chapter 7

Lesson 3: Greece and Persia

Bell Ringer

You are a student living in Sparta or Athens (your choice). Write a journal entry that describes a day in your life.

Persia’s Empire Located in Southwest Asia

Persian empire grew very powerful while Athens developed democracy

early Persians were warriors/cattle herders

500s BC – Cyrus the Great built the largest empire in the ancient world using a powerful army

540 BC – Cyrus the Great brings Mesopotamia, Syria, Judah, and Anatolia under Persian control

He kept his empire together by treating people fairly

Allowed people to keep their own language, religion, and laws

After Cyrus, the Persian empire expanded further

Stretched 3,000 miles long (almost the size of the U.S.

Connected their empire with advanced system of roads

Persian Government As size increased, the

empire became difficult to manage

522-486 BC - Darius I reorganizes the government

Divided empire into provinces called satrapies

Each was run by a governor called a satrap

Collected taxes, managed police, recruited soldiers

Employed a professional army 10,000 soldiers trained to

guard the king were called the Immortals

Who was Zoroaster? Early Persian practiced

polytheism A religious teacher named

Zoroaster introduced monotheism

His religion was called Zoroastrianism

Taught there was one supreme god called Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord)

Created all things, led the forces of good

Believed good would triumph over evil

Viewed their King as being sacred

Ruled by power of their god

The Persian Wars 400s BC – Persians were looking to expand into

Europe

Clashed with Greek forces early on in the Mediterranean area

Greek and Persian society was very different

Greeks believed in governing themselves

Persians obeyed an all powerful king

499 BC – Greeks in Persian controlled Anatolia rebel

Athens sends warships to aid the rebellion

Persians defeat the uprising

Darius I decides to punish Greeks for interfering

490 BC – Darius sends 600 ships and an army to invade Greece

Landed at Marathon and waited for Athenians to fight

Athenian army never showed, outnumbered 2 to 1

Persians load up their ships to sail to Athens

Athenians attack while Persians are defenseless, defeat the Persians

Land and Sea Battles 480 BC – Persians vow revenge against Athens

King Xerxes invades Greece with 200,000 troops

Sends thousands of warships and supply vessels

Greek city-states unite to defeat their common enemy

King Leonidas of Sparta sends the most soldiers

Themistocles of Athens directed the navy and created a battle plan

Greeks planned to attack Persian supply vessels, but had to stop Persians from reaching Athens

Battle of Thermopylae 7,000 Spartans battle the Persian army for three

days

A traitor shows the Persians a way to get behind the Spartans

King Leonidas sends all but 300 soldiers home and fights to the death

Land and Sea Battles Spartans allowed Themistocles time to carry out

his plan Athenian navy lured Persian fleet into a trap

Persian ships were bunched up between two pieces of land

Smaller, faster Greek ships outfought the bigger Persian navy

Greeks sank 300 Persian ships and lost about 40 of their own

Persian foot soldiers march to Athens Find city deserted and set it on fire

479 BC – Greek army defeats Persians at Plataea Armies were evenly matched at 100,000 men

Continues to fight Persia to free city-states in Anatolia

Peace finally comes between Greece and Persia in 449 BC

Fall of Persia Persia faced many challenges after losing to the

Greeks Army was very weak, couldn’t defend the empire

Persians grew unhappy with their government

Kings placed heavy taxes

300s BC - Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great

Individual Activity

Complete the geography connection activity on page 194. Answer question #1 and #2.

Chapter 7

Lesson 4: Glory, War, and Decline

Bell Ringer

Explain the events that led to Persia invading Greece, both the first and second times.

The Rule of Pericles 461–429 BC – Athens becomes a powerful

city-state Under new leader Pericles, Athens becomes

cultural and economic center of Greece

Democracy in Athens Athenians were very proud of their

democracy Practiced direct democracy – all citizens

meet to debate and vote on government matters

This worked in Athens because of their small population

Assembly consisted of 43,000 male citizens over the age of 18, and 10 generals

In the U.S., we practice a representative democracy – citizens elect a smaller group of people to make laws and govern

Pericles in Charge Pericles appoints people to positions

based on their ability, not their social class

Brought ordinary citizens into the government

Rebuilt Athens after Persians burned it down

Supported philosophers – thinkers who reflect on the true meaning of life

Called Athens “school of Greece”

Athenian Life 400s BC – Athens is the largest Greek

city-state Population: 285,000

150,000 were citizens

43,000 were males with political rights

35,000 foreigners, 100,000 slaves

Athenian Men and Women Men:

Worked as farmers, artisans, and merchants

Finished work in the morning, exercised in the afternoon

Upper class men spent evenings at social gatherings

Women: Focused on homes and families

Girls married young (mid-teens)

Poor women helped with farm work or sold goods at the market

Upper class women rarely left their houses Supervised servants and made cloth

Could not attend school, but many learned to read/play music

Were not considered equal to men

Slavery in Athens Most households had at least one slave

Most were prisoners captured in battle Including Greeks/non-Greeks

Men worked farms, shops, hard labor

Women were cooks, servants, and sometimes teachers

Treatment depended on where they worked

Athenian Economy Farming was very common

Wine and olive oil were popular exports

Lack of land forced Athens to import grain from other places

Built a large fleet of ships to trade with

400s BC – Athens led Greece in world trade

War Between Athens and Sparta City-states learned survival depended

on cooperation

478 BC – Greece forms the Delian League

Included many city-states who wanted to defend Greece from outside threats

Most sailors/soldiers came from Athens

Other cities supplied money and ships

Drove Persians out of Anatolia

The Athenian Empire Delian League fails despite its

successes Athens began to abuse control over

other city-states

Demanded strict loyalty and regular payments to the League

Peloponnesian War Sparta became alarmed at Athens growing power

Both Athens and Sparta wanted to be the major power in Greece

433 BC – Sparta leads a group of city-states against Athens

Athens interfered with Sparta’s allies

Sparta attacks Athens, war lasts for 30 years

Future cooperation between city-states is made impossible after this conflict

Why Did Athens Lose? Sparta surrounded Athens early on in the war

Pericles keeps his army and citizens within the city walls

Relied on Athenian navy to bring supplies

Disease breaks out in Athens killing 1/3rd of its people, including Pericles

Sparta trades Greek territory for Persian gold to build a navy

404 BC – Sparta destroys Athenian navy, Athens surrenders

Effects of the War Brought disaster to Greek city-states

Governments were left divided and weak

Many Greeks left to join Persian army Had no way to earn a living

Sparta ruled Greece harshly Many city-states rebelled

Thebes seizes Sparta, ends Spartan control

Comparing and Contrasting

List the causes and effects of the Persian War as well as the causes and effects of the Peloponnesian War using this method:

Persian War Peloponnesian War

Cuase/Effect Cause/Effect