Ancient Greek History

• Most historical facts from ancient Greece come from Herodotus - he is regarded as the "Father of History" in western culture.
• Thermopylae - The Battle of Thermopylae - Greece (led by the Spartans) vs. The Persian Empire
• Lycurgus was the first of the Spartan leaders to create a system of laws - thus beginning the "Age of Tyrants", Athens, ca. 650-510 B.C.
• By 650 B.C.E. Sparta is the most dominant military power in the region
• King Leonidas was the Spartan general that led the Battle of Thermopylae
• Spartans fought in PHALANX FORMATION during battles
• Pericles was the most powerful leader in Athens during the classical age

• The Peloponnesian War -
• Athens vs. Sparta
• Athens attacks by land and sea and still continues their trade routes
• Athenian port - Port of Piraeus
• Athenians build two walls from the port to the city center(6 mile trip)
• Every summer Sparta and Athens fight - Athenians are pushed back to the city by the Spartans and blocked inside
• No food and no crops outside
• The plague spreads inside the city - Pericles dies
• A truce is made and the Spartans leave