1. Cause & Effect in Greek History
Why we don’t speak Farsi

2. Ionian Revolt BC
The Greek cities occupied by the Persians in Asia Minor rose up against their Persian rulers.
In some accounts, Darius is entirely unaware of the existence of the Athenians before the attack.
The Ionians sack Sardis but the Persians counter-attack & the Ionians were defeated.
Darius vows revenge on Athens.

3. Persian Wars 490-448 BC Battle of Marathon- Greeks defeat the Persians
Hellenic League- Greek city-states ally against Persia, with Sparta in charge of the army, & Athens over the navy.
Battle at Thermopylae- Greeks defeated, but the Persian navy is heavily damaged.
Battle of Salamis- Persians forced to withdraw after navy defeated by the Greeks.

4. Delian League BC
Several city-states joined together for mutual protection against the Persians.
Athens placed at the head because of her naval supremacy.
Called the Delian League because its treasury was on the sacred island of Delos.
Athens forces other league members do what is in its own best interest & creates, in essence, an Athenian Empire.

5. Age of Pericles BC
With the Persian threat gone, Athens enters a 50 year period of prosperity under Pericles –
Golden age – classical Greek
Delian League money is used to rebuild the temples & monuments of the city of Athens.
Athens becomes the artistic, cultural, intellectual, & commercial center of the Greek world.
Many smart & interesting people are attracted to Athens.
Socrates, Plato
Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides, Sophocles
Herodotus, Demosthenes
Phidias, Myron

6. Delian League

7. Peloponnesian War – pg 124 431-404 BC
Sparta forms the Peloponnesian League to counter the Delian League.
Pericles has the people take refuge within the walls of Athens.
A plague breaks out & kills many, including Pericles.
Sparta turns to Persia to build itself a navy.
Athens surrenders following the destruction of their fleet by the Spartan navy.

9. Macedonian Greece BC
Greek city-states left weakened by the Peloponnesian Wars.
Philip of Macedon brings most of the city-states under Macedonian control.
20 year old Alexander comes to power upon Phillip’s assassination.
Alexander reasserts control over Greece & then turns east to expand into the Persian Empire.

12. Alexander’s Empire
BC- Marches with 50,000 men through Asia Minor and into Egypt where he is proclaimed pharaoh.
BC- Moves northward to Persia. Defeats Darius III at Gaugamela.
BC Proclaimed King of Persia after Darius is assassinated.
BC Alexander turns east crossing the Hindu Kush into India. His army refuses to go farther.
BC Alexander returns to Babylon & dies at age 33. His empire is divided amongst his generals.

13. Alexander’s Empire – pg. 141

14. Hellenistic Period 330-23 BC
Alexander encourages his soldiers to marry Persian women.
Blending of Greek, Egyptian, & Persian cultures.
Represents a departure from earlier Greek attitudes towards "barbarian" cultures.
New advances in science, medicine, & math, as well as philosophy, art, & literature.
Influences Rome & later empires (including us).