Transcript Section 4

Athens and Sparta
Two cities in conflict
I. A Spartan Life
• Spartan boys were raised to endure pain
and learn to survive with very little food
• Life was harsh and cruel
• The Spartans were tough, silent and grim
• Because of many wars, Sparta turned into
an awesome war machine
• Sparta’s motto was “Always put your city’s
needs above your own.”
II. Growing Up in Sparta
• Only the healthiest
children were raised
• At age 7, boys left
their mothers to live in
barracks with other
boys to train as
soldiers
• Training lasted for 13
years
III. Girls in Sparta
• Girls also trained and
competed in wrestling
and spear throwing
• Strong girls would
produce strong
children it was
believed
• Women were allowed
to own land and take
part in business
IV. The Persians Invade
• By 520 B.C. the Persians
controlled the Greek colonies
on the west coast of Asia Minor
• In 490 B.C. thousands of
Persians gathered at Marathon
to face a small Athenian army
• For several days both armies
stared intensely at each other
• Athenians rushed without
warning and defeated the
Persians killing 6,400 and
losing only 192 of their own
soldiers
V. The Athenian Empire
• After the Persians
were defeated,
Athens influence
spread over much of
Greece
• Many city-states allied
themselves with
Athens
• These city-states
gave their allegiance
to Athens
VI. Sparta and Athens at War
• Over time, city-states grew angry at Athens
• Many paid tribute, money, for protection, but
Athens spent it on the Parthenon and other
buildings
• Athens and Sparta went to war in 431 B.C.
• The war lasted for 27 years, called the
Peloponnesian War
VII. The Fall of Athens
• Early in the war, Athens
was struck by a plague
• Over one third of the
population died
• Sparta staged a blockade
surrounding the harbor
and Athens could not
receive food shipments
• Athens surrendered in
404 B.C.