Do Now:In journal/binder,

compare and contrast Sparta and Athens using a

Venn Diagram.

Athens and the Fall of City-States

Chapter 10: Section 3 & 4

Athens• Located to the

northeast of Sparta, on the Aegean coast

• Had a very different life-style compared to Spartans– interested in art,

philosophy, literature, and trade; not just military

Athenian Government• By 750 B.C.E. Athenian

nobles and merchants took over the government.

• They set up an oligarchy• Many fights broke out over

land ownership and showed a need for government reform

• Draco made the first attempt at reform, but he failed because his punishments were too harsh.

Solon• Solon, a rich merchant, took over the government in 594 B.C.E.• He prepared a constitution which broke up the political power of the rich.• His credits include:

– limited how much land a person could own

– gave landowners the right to vote– assembly was given right to pass laws– ordered every father to teach his son a

trade

Democracy in Athens• In 508 B.C.E. a noble named

Cleisthenes took over the government of Athens.

• He put into effect the first constitution that was democratic

• It favored the equality of all people– for example: freedom of

speech• Lasted for almost 300 years

Democracy in Athens Cont.

• Opened the assembly to all males over 20 years old

• Each year the assembly elected 10 generals to run the army and navy and to serve as magistrates, or judges.

• The Council of 500 handled the daily business of Athens

• Council member were chosen by lot rather than voting because people were afraid people with money would have unfair advantage and believed every citizen was smart enough to hold office

Athenian Boys and Young Men

• Citizens were required to educate their sons– had a tutor or sent to private school at age of 7– studied writing, mathematics, and music– practiced sports and memorized literature

• Athenian males became citizens at the age of 18– took oath of citizenship at the temple of Zeus in

front of family and friends– promised to be honorable in battle, follow the

constitution, and respect their religion

One army controls everything in brown. Another army controls

everything in green. What problems may occur?

• In 545 BCE the Persians conquered Ionia. (The Greek city states in Asia Minor.)

• In 525 BCE the Greeks revolted and were helped by Athens.

The Persian Wars• Darius, the Persian king wanted to

punish the mainland Greeks for helping the Ionians

• In 490 BCE, Darius prepared for attack in the plain of Marathon, northeast of Athens.

• The Greeks ran down hills towards unprepared Persians and won the Battle of Marathon.

• The Greeks began creating Triremes or multilevel war ships to attack the Persians if they were to return.

NIKE!

Persian Wars Cont.• In 480 BCE the Persians returned

under their new king Xerxes. • The Greeks were forced to band

together with the Spartans leading the Army and the Athenians leading the Navy.

• The Spartans challenged the Persians at the battle of Thermopylae.

• Were able to hold off the Persians for three days by holding them at a narrow pass

Persian War: Battle of Salamis

• Then, the Greeks tricked the Persians into sailing into the strait between Athens and Salamis.

• The Greeks were able to defeat the larger Persian ships because the Greek ships were faster and the Persian ships could not all pass at once.

• In 479 BCE The Persian War ended at the battle of Plataea, with a Greek victory.

Battle of Salamis

The Delian League and the Athenian Empire

• The Athenians suggested the city-states form a defensive league, or the Delian League, to protect themselves from future attacks.

• The league worked well for a while, but over time Athens gained great power– other city-states had to ask Athens

permission to trade or sail– Athenian coins replaced Greek money

• League turned into the Athenian Empire

Pericles of Athens

• The main leader of Athens at the time was Pericles, who was called the first citizen.

• Led Athens for over 30 years• Rebuilt Athens and built

Parthenon using money from Delian League in order to beautify the city

• Art, Philosophy, and Literature flourished

Decline of Athens and City-States

• The more powerful Athens became, the more resentful other city-states became of Athens

• Grew weak because of the Peloponnesian war, which was fought over control of Athens– A plague spread and land was destroyed– Men left to become mercenaries in Persian army

• After the war, Greeks lost their sense of community– became more interested in money– bitterness rose between upper and lower class

• Greece was no longer strong enough or united enough to fight off invaders

Athenian Army• After taking oath of citizenship at age 18, men

went to military school for two years of training/service

• The people elected two athletic trainers and instructors for them, to teach them how to be heavy-armed soldiers and to use the bow, javelin, and sling

• Some might then join the army, if they preferred, while the rest went about their lives but…

…they were on active duty-- to be called upon if needed for battle

Athenian Navy• Had a fleet of triremes—three levels of rowers

• The triremes were 100 -120 feet long and 20 feet wide

• Each ship has approximately 170 rowers—mostly made up of Athens poorer citizens--who were paid

• At the Athenian Navy’s peak, there were about 400 triremes which required almost 80,000 rowers!!

Trireme