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