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the Persian wars and greek (dis)unity - Coggle Diagram
the Persian wars and greek (dis)unity
relations between the greek poleis
sparta was the head of the Peloponnesian league, which included all of the Peloponnese except from Achaea and Argos
sparta and argos saw themselves as the principal polis and there was an extended rivalry between them
sparta began to interfere with athenian affairs towards the end of the 6th century
they helped to get rid of the tyrant hippies in 510 BC
they interfered in 507/508 BC to prevent the emergence of a democracy but ultimately failed
the spartans invaded Attica again in 506 BC, helped by the thebans who were angry at Athens for supporting platea against them
attempts to unify the greeks during this period of conflict
in 490 BC the Persian king Darius planned an expedition against Greece, with the main purpose to get revenge on Athens
the unlikely athenian victory was a success for the new democracy
after his death, his son Xerxes carried on the invasion of Greece in 481 BC
the battle of marathon
490 BC
the athenians asked sparta to aid in their fight against the Persians, but they declined
the plataeans helped the athenians, leading to the defeat of the Persians
on the march to Greece, the Persians tried to cross the Hellespont but the bridges had been destroyed. this angered Xerxes and he gave the sea 300 lashes
the greek poleis came together against the Persians, with the athenians in control of land and the spartans in control of the navy
many states in the north were not confident in the greek defence and so mediated (surrendered to the Persians)
the battle of Thermopylae
480 BC
a trerachourous greek revealed to Xerxes the path through the pass of thermopylae
Xerxes sent his personal soldiers over the path, and when the greeks found out they retreated, leading to the failure of the defence of thermopylae
the division and unity of the greeks reflected by herodotus
"most of these did not want to fight against the persians"
most states wanted to medusa
"the terrifying oracles, which came out of Delphi"
the athenians demanded another oracle , and then chose to evacuate the city
herodotus implies that although most states would have mediated or panicked, the athenians made plans to defend their way of life
"we are greek, we share the same blood, the same languages, the same shrines of the gods and methods of sacrifice, the same customs"
herodotus showing the unity of the greeks; similarity
varying responses to the Persian threat
medising
herodotus gave a list of the medising states: thessalians, Dolopes, aenianes, perhaebi, locrians, magnetes, malignas, achaeans, thebans and all boeotians except for plateau and thespiae
most of these states were in the north of Greece, and so were neighbouring Persian controlled areas
herodotus suggests that Thebes secretly mediated, despite having fought at Thermopylae