hieu 2031 ancient greece unit 13 study guides

Historical Context

• Athens and Sparta emerged as the two dominant city-states in Greece following the Persian Wars (499-449 BCE)
• The Persian Wars united the Greek city-states against a common enemy, but also highlighted the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of Athens and Sparta
• Athens had a strong navy and a democratic government, while Sparta had a powerful army and an oligarchic system
• The Delian League, led by Athens, was formed as a defensive alliance against future Persian aggression
  • Member states contributed ships or money to the league, which Athens increasingly used to expand its own power and influence
• Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League as a counterbalance to Athenian power, leading to growing tensions between the two city-states
• The post-Persian War era saw a shift in the balance of power in Greece, with Athens and Sparta vying for dominance

Key Figures and Leaders

• Pericles (495-429 BCE) was a prominent Athenian statesman and general who led Athens during its Golden Age
  • He promoted democracy, the arts, and the expansion of the Athenian empire
  • Under his leadership, Athens undertook ambitious building projects, such as the Parthenon on the Acropolis
• Cimon (510-450 BCE) was an Athenian general and politician who played a key role in the early years of the Delian League
  • He led successful campaigns against the Persians and helped to establish Athenian dominance in the Aegean
• Leonidas I (540-480 BCE) was a Spartan king who led the famous last stand of the 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae during the Persian Wars
  • His sacrifice became a symbol of Spartan bravery and devotion to duty
• Pausanias (5th century BCE) was a Spartan general who commanded the allied Greek forces at the Battle of Plataea, which effectively ended the Persian threat to Greece
• Themistocles (524-459 BCE) was an Athenian politician and general who played a crucial role in the Greek victory over the Persians
  • He convinced the Athenians to build a large navy, which proved decisive in the battles of Artemisium and Salamis

Political Developments

• Athens underwent significant political reforms under the leadership of Cleisthenes (508 BCE), who introduced a more democratic system of government
  • The reforms included the creation of the Council of 500, which oversaw day-to-day governance, and the division of citizens into ten tribes for political and military purposes
• The Athenian democracy continued to evolve during the 5th century BCE, with the introduction of pay for public officeholders and the use of ostracism to remove potential threats to the state
• Sparta maintained its oligarchic system, with power concentrated in the hands of a small group of wealthy landowners
  • The Spartan government consisted of two hereditary kings, a council of elders (gerousia), and an assembly of citizens (apella)
• The Delian League, initially a voluntary alliance, became increasingly dominated by Athens, which used its position to impose its will on other member states
  • The treasury of the league was moved from Delos to Athens in 454 BCE, symbolizing Athenian control
• The growing power of Athens led to resentment among other Greek city-states, particularly Sparta, setting the stage for future conflicts

Military Advancements

• Athens focused on developing its navy, recognizing the importance of sea power in the Aegean
  • The Athenian navy consisted of triremes, fast and maneuverable warships with three rows of oars on each side
  • The navy allowed Athens to project power throughout the Aegean and protect its trade routes
• Sparta, on the other hand, relied on its formidable army, which was composed of highly trained and disciplined hoplites
  • Spartan soldiers underwent rigorous training from a young age, instilling a strong sense of loyalty and obedience
  • The Spartan phalanx, a close-knit formation of hoplites, was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield
• The Persian Wars saw the development of new military tactics and strategies, such as the use of the phalanx formation and the employment of light infantry (peltasts) to harass the enemy
• The post-Persian War era also witnessed the rise of mercenary armies, as city-states increasingly relied on professional soldiers to supplement their citizen militias

Social and Cultural Changes

• The Persian Wars and the rise of Athens and Sparta had a profound impact on Greek society and culture
• Athens experienced a cultural flourishing during the 5th century BCE, known as the Golden Age of Athens
  • This period saw the construction of iconic buildings like the Parthenon and the Erechtheion on the Acropolis
  • The arts, literature, and philosophy thrived, with figures such as Sophocles, Euripides, and Socrates making significant contributions
• Sparta, in contrast, maintained a more austere and militaristic society, with an emphasis on discipline, obedience, and physical fitness
  • Spartan boys were removed from their families at a young age and underwent a rigorous education and training system known as the agoge
  • Women in Sparta enjoyed greater freedom and respect compared to other Greek city-states, as they were responsible for managing households and estates while the men were away at war
• The Olympic Games, which had been held since 776 BCE, gained increased importance as a symbol of Greek unity and a showcase for athletic prowess
• The rise of Athens and Sparta also led to a growing sense of Greek identity, as the city-states began to see themselves as distinct from non-Greeks (barbarians)

Economic Shifts

• The post-Persian War era saw significant changes in the Greek economy, largely driven by the growth of Athens and its empire
• Athens' control of the Delian League and its strong navy allowed it to dominate trade in the Aegean, bringing wealth and prosperity to the city
  • The Athenian port of Piraeus became a major hub for commerce, with goods from across the Mediterranean world passing through its harbors
• The Athenian empire also provided a source of revenue through tribute payments from subject states, which were used to finance public works and pay for the navy
• Sparta, with its focus on military prowess, had a less developed economy compared to Athens
  • Spartan citizens were forbidden from engaging in trade or manual labor, which were considered beneath their status as warriors
  • The Spartan economy relied heavily on the labor of helots, a class of serfs who worked the land owned by Spartan citizens
• The growth of trade and commerce in the Greek world led to the development of new financial instruments, such as coinage and credit
• The increasing wealth and prosperity of Athens and other city-states also contributed to a growing gap between rich and poor, which would become a source of social and political tension in the years to come

Athens vs. Sparta: Comparative Analysis

• Athens and Sparta represented two contrasting models of Greek city-states, with distinct political, social, and economic systems
• Politically, Athens was a democracy, with power distributed among its male citizens, while Sparta was an oligarchy, with power concentrated in the hands of a small elite
  • Athenian democracy encouraged participation and debate, while Spartan oligarchy emphasized conformity and obedience
• Militarily, Athens relied on its navy and the wealth of its empire, while Sparta depended on its army and the discipline of its soldiers
  • The Athenian navy allowed for power projection and control of trade routes, while the Spartan army was nearly unbeatable on land
• Socially, Athens was a cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant city, while Sparta was a more insular and militaristic society
  • Athenian citizens enjoyed a wide range of freedoms and opportunities, while Spartan citizens were expected to subordinate their individual interests to the needs of the state
• Economically, Athens was a major center of trade and commerce, while Sparta had a less developed economy based on agriculture and the labor of helots
  • The wealth and prosperity of Athens allowed for the financing of ambitious public works and cultural achievements, while Sparta's economy was geared towards supporting its military machine
• Despite their differences, both Athens and Sparta were essential in shaping the course of Greek history and culture, and their rivalry would eventually lead to the devastating Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)

Legacy and Historical Significance

• The post-Persian War era marked a crucial turning point in Greek history, as Athens and Sparta emerged as the dominant powers in the Greek world
• The rise of Athens and its empire showcased the potential of democracy and naval power, while Sparta's military prowess and discipline became legendary
• The cultural achievements of Athens during its Golden Age, including the works of playwrights, philosophers, and artists, had a lasting impact on Western civilization
  • The Parthenon and other monuments on the Acropolis remain iconic symbols of Greek culture and achievement
• The rivalry between Athens and Sparta, which culminated in the Peloponnesian War, highlighted the tensions and conflicts within the Greek world
  • The war weakened both city-states and paved the way for the rise of Macedon under Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great
• The political, military, and cultural innovations of the post-Persian War era had a profound influence on the development of Western civilization
  • The ideas of democracy, individual rights, and the rule of law, which were pioneered in Athens, would inspire future generations of political thinkers and leaders
• The legacy of Athens and Sparta continues to resonate in modern times, with their contrasting models of society and government still informing debates about the nature of power, freedom, and the ideal state
• The study of this pivotal period in Greek history provides valuable insights into the complexities of human society and the enduring impact of political, military, and cultural developments on the course of world history