• World history is shaped by conflict and
competition.
• Wars have changed the land, people,
culture, and history of almost every
civilization.
• Greek history changed because of two wars:
– Persian
– Peloponnesian
• While Greece was growing, the Persian
empire dominated most of the world.
• Persia already conquered India,
Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt.
• Looked at Greece for
next area to conquer.
• Persian King Darius attacked
Greece at city of Marathon.
• Athens won because of better
weapons, armor, and tactics.
• Persians returned 10 years
later led by Darius’ son,
Xerxes.
• Xerxes led the entire Persian
army and navy into Greece.
• Athens and Sparta
decided to join forces
and defend Greece.
• Sparta led the army, Athens the navy.
• Massive battles begin:
– Thermopylae: 300 Spartans
vs. 250,000 Persians
– Salamis: Athenian naval victory
– Plataea: All Greek
city-states
united and defeated
the Persians
• The Persian Empire was defeated
but remained strong.
• Many city-states formed an alliance
to work together for protection.
• Became known
as the Delian
League.
• Sparta refused to join, so
Athens, led by Pericles,
took control.
• Athens forced other
city-states to join and
pay “protection” money.
• Without war or bloodshed,
Pericles created the
Athenian Empire.
• Fearing the strength of
Athens, Sparta began
a defensive league.
• Athens and Sparta
scrambled to gain
control over all free
city-states.
• Sparta declared war, and
civil war ripped Greece
apart.
• Finally after 30 years, and
with Persia’s help, Sparta
conquered Athens.