1. Persian and Peloponnesian Wars Golden Age of Pericles
WHI: SOL 5d, e
Persian and Peloponnesian Wars
Golden Age of Pericles

2. Importance of Persian Wars (499–449 b.c. [b.c.e.])
Persian wars united Athens and Sparta against the Persian Empire.
Athenian victories over the Persians at Marathon and Salamis left Greeks in control of the Aegean Sea.
Athens preserved its independence and continued innovations in government and culture.

3. Battle of Marathon
Persians sought to crush Athens, Persian army landed at Marathon in 490 b.c.
Athenians were outnumbered but attacked, broke through the Persian line and engaged in hand to hand combat
Overwhelmed by the fury of the Athenian attack, the Persians retreated

4. Battle of Marathon
Themistocles the Athenian general warned that the Persians would return and urged the Athenians to build a fleet of warships
Legend of the Modern Marathon:
A runner covered the distance between Marathon and Athens to report the victory
Distance was miles

6. Battle of Thermopylae Spartans guarded the mountain pass
Led by the warrior-king Leonidas, the Spartans held out against the massive Persian force, but were defeated in the end

10. Battle of Salamis
Athenians lured the Persian navy into the narrow strait of Salamis
Athenian warships, powered by rowers, drove into the Persian boats with underwater battering rams
Xerxes watched from shore as his fleet sank

12. Golden Age of Pericles (mostly occurring between the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars)
Pericles extended democracy; most adult males had an equal voice.
Pericles had Athens rebuilt after destruction in the Persian Wars; the Parthenon is an example of this reconstruction.
After the Persian Wars, Greece formed an alliance known as the Delian League, headed by Athens
Known for the Funeral Oration to commemorate those who died fighting Sparta in the Peloponnesian War

14. Parthenon (Athens, Greece)

16. Importance of Peloponnesian War (431–404 b.c. [b.c.e.])
Caused in part by competition for control of the Greek world: Athens and the Delian League versus Sparta and the Peloponnesian League
Resulted in slowing of cultural advance and the weakening of political power