What happened in 490 BC and why is it significant in Greek history?
The Battle of Marathon occurred in 490 BC; it was a major Athenian victory that boosted Greek morale and proved Persian forces could be defeated.
Who was Themistocles and what was his role in the Persian Wars?
Themistocles was an Athenian general who championed naval expansion and led Athens to victory at the Battle of Salamis.
What type of government did Athens have during this period?
A direct democracy where male citizens participated in decision-making through the assembly.
What was the role of the helots in Spartan society?
Helots were enslaved people who worked the land and supported the Spartan economy, allowing citizens to focus on military training.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Salamis?
The Greeks, led by Athens, won a decisive naval victory that forced the Persian fleet to retreat and shifted momentum in the war.
What alliance was formed in 478 BC and what was its purpose?
The Delian League was formed to continue the fight against Persia and to protect Greek city-states from future attacks.
How did Aristides contribute to the formation of the Delian League?
He was respected for his fairness and helped determine the tribute that member states would pay, laying a foundation for League operations.
What role did the ecclesia play in Athenian democracy?
It was the citizen assembly that debated and voted on laws, declarations of war, and political decisions.
What made the Spartan military system unique?
It was a full-time, state-run military system with rigorous training starting from age 7 through the agoge.
Why was the Battle of Thermopylae significant?
Although a Greek defeat, it showed heroic resistance and delayed the Persians, boosting Greek morale and unity.
What was the significance of the Battle of Marathon in Greek history?
It demonstrated that Persian forces could be beaten, marking a shift in Greek unity and self-confidence.
Describe Pausanias’ leadership and his fall from grace.
Pausanias initially led the Greek forces successfully but was later recalled by Sparta after accusations of arrogance and alleged collaboration with Persia.
Describe the purpose of ostracism in Athenian society.
Ostracism was a mechanism to protect democracy by exiling individuals seen as threats to the state for ten years.
Describe the function of the Gerousia.
The Gerousia was the council of elders (28 men over 60 and 2 kings) who proposed laws and acted as a high court.
How did naval power contribute to Athenian dominance?
Athens used its powerful navy to control trade routes, collect tribute, and project influence across the Aegean.
Explain how the Delian League evolved over time.
It started as a mutual alliance against Persia but evolved into an Athenian empire as Athens dominated its allies and used the League's treasury for its own purposes.
What role did King Leonidas of Sparta play at the Battle of Thermopylae, and how did his leadership impact Greek morale and identity?
King Leonidas led a small Greek force, including 300 Spartans, in a heroic stand against the vastly larger Persian army at Thermopylae in 480 BC. His decision to fight to the death became a powerful symbol of courage, sacrifice, and resistance. Leonidas’ leadership inspired unity among the Greek city-states and became a defining moment in the development of a collective Greek identity during the Persian Wars.
Explain the relationship between Athens’ democracy and its imperialism.
While promoting democracy at home, Athens exercised authoritarian control over its allies in the Delian League, enforcing tribute and suppressing dissent.
How did the agoge shape Spartan values?
It instilled discipline, obedience, loyalty to the state, and excellence in warfare from an early age.
Compare the Greek strategies at the Battles of Marathon and Salamis in their conflicts against Persia. What do these strategies reveal about Greek military strengths?
At Marathon (490 BC), the Greeks used a strong, disciplined hoplite phalanx and a surprise attack to defeat the Persians on land. At Salamis (480 BC), the Greeks, led by Themistocles, lured the larger Persian fleet into narrow straits, using superior naval manoeuvring to secure victory. These strategies reveal Greek strengths in tactical innovation, terrain advantage, and unity in the face of overwhelming odds, which helped offset Persian numerical superiority.
How did the revolt of Naxos (c. 469 BC) challenge the original purpose of the Delian League, and what does Athens’ response reveal about its leadership?
The revolt of Naxos challenged the Delian League’s original purpose as a voluntary alliance against Persia. Naxos attempted to leave the League, but Athens used military force to suppress the revolt and imposed harsher conditions on the island. This response reveals that Athens was no longer acting as an equal ally but as an imperial power, enforcing League membership through coercion and control.
Evaluate the impact of Cimon’s domestic and foreign policy.
Cimon promoted peace with Sparta and strengthened Athenian naval dominance, but his policies were seen as overly pro-Spartan and led to political opposition.
How did Pericles strengthen democracy and the empire simultaneously?
He expanded civic participation by paying officials, and he used League funds to build monuments like the Parthenon, promoting Athenian cultural and political dominance.
Assess the impact of Spartan isolationism on their leadership in Greece.
Sparta’s reluctance to engage in wider alliances and its focus on internal stability limited its influence compared to Athens.
Evaluate the long-term impact of the Persian Wars on the Greek world.
The wars created a power vacuum filled by Athens, leading to imperialism and eventual conflict with Sparta (Peloponnesian War).