Ancient Greek Civilization and Imperial Conflicts

Ancient Greece: Core Characteristics

Political Structure

The Greek world was never politically unified. City-states (c/s) maintained their own governments and fiercely defended their independence, leading to endless rivalry and frequent wars.

Forms of Government

• Monarchy: Government where a king exercises central power.
• Aristocracy: Government ruled by noble leaders who were elected. Initially, the power of the king shifted to the noble class, who defended the king but eventually won power themselves.
• Oligarchy: Government ruled by a small, powerful elite. This group challenged landowning nobles for power and came to dominate the city-states.

Economy, Religion, and Society

• Economy: Based primarily on settlers and traders.
• Religion: Polytheistic, centered on Mythology and the Olympian gods.
• Social Hierarchy: King, King’s court, ordinary people, and slaves.

The Persian Wars

The conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire.

Key Figures and Expansion

• Cyrus the Great: Established the new Persian Empire, which stretched to Egypt and ruled the Ionian Greeks.
• Darius: Son of Cyrus. After Cyrus's death, Darius extended the empire into Macedonia and Thrace.

The Ionian Revolt

Led by Aristagoras, the Ionian Greeks rebelled against the Persians. They achieved initial success, but the Persians ultimately destroyed the city of Miletus, ending the uprising.

Xerxes' Invasion and Greek Defense

• Athenians: After preventing earlier Persian invasions, Athens became wealthy.
• Xerxes: Son of Darius. He sought revenge for his father's defeat and assembled another massive army.
• Greek Army: Evacuated Athens and watched as the Persians inflicted damage upon their city.
• Persian Army: Cut off supplies and retired north for the winter. The Greeks met the Persians in open battle where they defeated them.
• Mykale: The Greeks defeated the Persians again.

Aftermath and the Delian League

Following the defeat of the Persians, the Greeks realized they would never be truly free from the threat of invasion. The Delian League was formed with Athens as the dominant member. Athens subsequently changed its role to rule the League as an empire.

The Peloponnesian War

The conflict between the two Greek superpowers: Athens and Sparta.

Rivalry and Alliances

• Athens signed a treaty with Argos, an enemy of Sparta, thereby making Athens an enemy of Sparta as well.
• The Thirty Years' Truce followed the first war (which lasted 15 years) between Athens and Sparta, where neither side gained a significant advantage.

The Conflict Begins

When Thebes attacked an ally of Athens, this forced Sparta and Athens to face off, and the war raged for years.

The Siege of Athens and the Plague

When Sparta invaded Attica, Pericles allowed people from the surrounding countryside to move inside the city walls. The resulting overcrowding led to a terrible plague that broke out, killing a third of the population.

Spartan Victory

Sparta allied with Persia. Using the Persian navy, Sparta captured Athens. However, they chose not to destroy the city.

Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age

Alexander Ascends the Throne

Alexander of Macedonia ascends the throne. He quickly puts down revolts in the Greek cities, destroying Thebes as a warning to others.

Conquest of the Persian Empire

Alexander invades Persia, capturing Tyre. He then invades Egypt, where the people welcomed him as a Liberator and declared him Pharaoh.

Alexander's Legacy

Greek culture spread widely, creating connections across the vast territory. The Library of Alexandria became a major center of knowledge and learning.