Greece

By 1721871
  • Period: 499 BCE to 449 BCE

    The Persian Wars

    The Persian Empire tried to conquer Greece three times but failed each time. The Persians wanted revenge after Athens helped one of their colonies residing the Persians. The first battle, at the city-state Marathon, the Greeks won by a phalanx formation. The second battle at Thermopylae, 300 Spartans and 7,000 Greeks against 10,000 Persians. 300 Spartans were holding Thermopylae, a mountain pass, for three days and later lost. After the wars, Greece was liberated from the threat of the Persians.
  • Period: 479 BCE to 431 BCE

    The Golden Age of Athens

    After the wars were over, Athens created the Delian League and becoming very wealthy and powerful. Pericles was the leader of Athens during the time. Classical arts, theater, and philosophy were main parts of culture. Classical art showed beauty, serenity, and youth. The Greeks invented two different genres in Theater, Tragedy and comedy. These involved serious drama about hate, love, and war. Comedies included humor, and making fun of politics.
  • Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

    The Peloponnesian War

    Athens became too powerful as leader of the Delian League. Some city-states wanted to leave since the Persians were not a threat. Athens punished those who left. Sparta created the Peloponnesian League to counter the Delian League. Pericles brings all the citizens behind the city wall for protection but then causes a plague killing 1/3 of the population including Pericles. Sparta won the war. Both city-states were so weak that Philip the II of Macedonia easily conquered them.
  • Period: 356 to 323

    Alexander The Great

    Alexander the Great was the son of Phillip the II. When Phillip died at his daughters wedding Alexander became king at the age of 20 years old. Alexander was very educated and well-trained as a military officer. He got tutored by the famous philosopher, Aristotle. Alexander conquered Greece and the Persian Empire in order from Greece, Anatolia, Egypt, Persia, then India. When returning from India, Alexander shortly died from malaria at the age of 33 years old.