1. Section 5: The Expansion of Greece

2. At first, the Greek city-states developed without interference from the nearby empires of Southwest Asia. Eventually, the mighty Persian Empire entered into Greek affairs. In 546 B. C. King Cyrus of Persia conquered the Greek colonies on the western coast of Asia Minor. Cyrus permitted these Greeks to keep their local governments. Later rulers, however, tightened Persian rule and raised taxes.

3. I. The Persian Wars
The Persian Wars, a series of conflicts between Greece and Persia, lasted over 20 years

4. Persian Infantry formation
I. The Persian Wars
About 500 B.C. Athens helped Greek city-states in Asia Minor rebel against the Persians
Greek phalanx
Persian Infantry formation

5. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
The Persian ruler Darius crushed the Greek revolts and invaded Greece

6. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
The Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.

7. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
In 480 BC Xerxes led the Persians against Greece; city-states united to stop the Persians

8. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
In the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans blocked the Persian army for three days

9. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
Xerxes’ army slaughtered the Spartans and moved on to destroy Athens
Xerxes was king of Persia from BCE

10. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
Athens’ leader Themistocles tricked Xerxes into attacking in the Salamis Strait and sunk most of the Persian ships
Xerxes was sure of victory. He had his throne placed on a hill overlooking the sea, in part to savor his victory and in part so his commanders would know that their king was watching them
The Battle of Salamis

11. A. Wars under Darius and Xerxes
In 479 BC Athens and Sparta joined forces, defeated the Persians at Plataea, and ended the Persian Wars
Battle of Plataea

12. B. The Results of the Persian Wars
The Athenians rebuilt their city and by 450 BC had created an empire in the Aegean Sea

13. B. The Results of the Persian Wars
Persia was still a threat and 140 Greek city-states united under the Delian League, led by Athens

14. From 461 BC to 429 BC Pericles brought Athens to the peak of its power
II. The Age of Pericles
From 461 BC to 429 BC Pericles brought Athens to the peak of its power

15. II. The Age of Pericles
Pericles brought stability and prosperity to the Delian League, but Athens made all the decisions

16. III. The Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 B.C. between Athens and Sparta

17. III. The Peloponnesian War
The stronger Spartan army invaded the Attica Peninsula and laid siege to Athens

18. III. The Peloponnesian War
The Athenian navy was stronger and was able to supply Athens by ship - the siege lasted for 27 years
Control of the Aegean Sea ensured that the grain ships could reach the Athenian harbor of the Piraeus safely. The corridor guaranteed that grain could be transported to the fortified city without any threat from enemy infantry

19. III. The Peloponnesian War
Athens attacked Syracuse and suffered great losses, aristocrats seized power and internal fighting weakened Athens

20. III. The Peloponnesian War
Sparta united with the Persians and forced Athens’ surrendered in 404 BC
The Spartans attacked Athens and were soon joined by the Persians. For awhile the Athenians hung on. But in 405, their navy was destroyed in a surprise attack, and by the next year the situation was hopeless. In 404 BC, the Athenians surrendered totally to the Spartans, who tore down the walls of the city, barred them from ever having a navy, and installed their own oligarchic government, the Thirty. The Age of Athens, the Age of Pericles, the Classical Age, the Athenian Empire, had come to an end.