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Pericles was one of four major Athenian dramatists. In one of his plays, which was about the Persian Wars, Pericles sponsored it. He wrote a Trilogy, which is a group of three related dramatic or literary works, called the Oresteia. He wrote more than 80 plays, but only 7 survived.
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Democracy gradually developed over time, but was established in 500 BC. The Assembly passed laws, taxed, and voted. The assembly also had power to ostrasize, or banish someone.
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Miletus, a Greek city-state, planned to attack the Persians. The Miletus people asked other Greek city-states to join them in thier attempt to overthrow the Persians.
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Pericles eventually became one of the most powerful and influential man in Athens. He was great at public speaking. He was well known for his hard work and dedication. He also convinced Athenians to pay citizens for government work. He convinced the assembly to build bigger and stronger walls, to protect their thriving city.
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The Persians, led by Xerxes, wanted to conquer all of Greece. Athens and Sparta join forces. A few other city-states join Athens and Sparta also.They were led by Leonidas.Thermopylae is narrow, so only parts of the Persian's forces could pass at a time. Leonidas's forces held off the pass for 2 days. A traitor showed the Persians a way to use a mountain path to attack the Greeks from behind. Leonidas realized what happened, he ordered most of his army to retreat. 300 Spartans stayed behind.
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Athens wanted to form a league to protect themselves against another battle, such as one from the Persians again. So, each city-state in the Delian league sent as much money to Athens as Athens demanded. Other city-states in the Delian league were not allowed to resign from the league.
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Socrates was an excellent philosopher. His student, Plato, wrote down lots of Socrates's ideas. Socrates wrote down none of his ideas, so all we know about him is from Plato.
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The war lasted 25 years, and put an end to the Athenian empire. Pericles knew the Spartans had a better army, but that the Athenians had a better navy. Pericles tried to avoid as much land battles as possible. The second year of the war began with the Spartans attacking, and the Athenians retreating behind their walls. But, a terrible plague swept through, killing nearly 1/4 of the population. Athens tried to conquer Sicily, but then retreated, and there army was split, and many were killed.
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Aristotle was born in Macedonia, which is north of Greece. His father was a doctor. When he came to Athens, he studied at Plato's school for 20 years, and then started his own school, the Lyceum.
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Alexander the Great attacked Asia Minor and conquered it. The Persians, led by Darius III, eventually retreated. Alexander conquers everything from the coast of the Mediterranean, to Asia Minor, to Egypt.
