1. The Development of Classical Greece

4. A Look at Athens… A Look at Athens … A leader in democracy – reformers moved towards democracy after struggles between the rich and poor

8. A Look at Sparta… A militaristic society due to almost being defeated by another city-state

12. The Story of the Persian Wars The Persians invaded present-day Turkey in 546 B.C.E.. The Ionian Greeks (in Turkey) are defeated even though Athenians sent ships and soldiers. The Persians, under Darius the Great, were angry with Athens and met up with the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.E., where the Athenians won. Pheidippides ran back to Athens to tell of the victory. When the Persians arrived in Athens, the Athenians had already returned and they quickly retreated. Ten years later, Xerxes (Darius’s son) came back to defeat Athens. While some Greeks supported Athens and others wanted Athens to fall, 300 Spartans defended Athens and all of Greece in the Battle of Thermopylae. The Spartans held the Persians for three days, but eventually Athens fought them in a naval battle near the island of Salamis. The Athenians’ superior navy defeated the Persians. After one more battle in 479 B.C.E., Xerxes was on the defensive.

14. The Peloponnesian Wars After Athens beat Persia, Athens grew rich and powerful. Ill feelings grew between Sparta and Athens, which led to war. Sparta marched towards Athens and burned their food supply. Athenians stayed inside the city as they received supplies from the port. Disaster struck when a plague spread through the city, yet they fought for several more years. In 421 B.C.E., they signed a truce. Athens tried once more to beat Sparta but was defeated again, and eventually surrendered in 404 B.C.E..