Delian League and Military
-The league was controlled by Sparta and Athens
-Athens was recognized as a metropolis (Mother city)
-They placed Athens at the head because of its strong navy
-IN 446 B.C. the league became and empire ruled mostly by Athens
-The league was land and water based.
-The league took over other cities and forced them to join the league and have a democratic government.
-Purpose was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after Greek victory in the battle of Plataea
-In 467 B.C. the league overcame Naxos and moved onto take over Asia Minor
Tactics
-Avoided engagement with the Spartan infantry.
-The purpose was to maintain pressure on the enemy occupation to eventually over run it having only few casualties.
-The Athens were predicted to prevail over Sparta due to superior amounts of resources, money and men.
Delian league Goals
- To liberate the Lonian Greeks from Persian rule.
-To safeguard the islands in the Aegean from further Persian aggression.
-Within time, the Delian League controlled virtually all the Greeks in the islands and coastal region of the Aegean. The league slowly turned in to an Athenian empire
Pericles
-Delian war
-Promoted the arts and literature (Athens hold the reputation of being educational and cultural centered)
-Turned the Delian League into an Athenian Empire
-Responsible for rebuilding the Athens
Key Players
Persian War
-Themistocles. Athenian admiral at battle of Salamis.
-Darius 1. King of Persian Empire during first Persian war, 490 B.C.
-Xerxes. King of Persian Empire during Second Persian war, 480 to 479 B.C.
-Miltiades. Athenian general at battle of Marathon
Peloponnese War
Cleon-First representative of the commercial class politics.
Nicias- Member of Athenian aristocracy, became the rival of Cleon, aim was to conclude a peace with Sparta.
Alcibiades Prominent Athenian Statesman, Orator and general, played a major role in the 2 half of the conflict.
Weapon and Armor
Persian War
Hoplon- Greek weapon made by wood covered by bronze. Inside is leather
Knimis- Flexible metal and lined with felt, leather or cloth. Wore around the legs.
Peloponnese war
Short swords(spears), shields, helmets
Who participated in the Army
-All physically fit men citizens 18-60 years.
Different kind of soldiers. 4
Peltast
-Were a lighter infantryman, without armor except for a helmet.
-armed with the long spear plus 7 smaller spheres, for throwing
-carried a longer, oval shaped shield, or sometimes a crescent shaped shield.
-Fought in a more open order, their job in battle being to protect the flanks and rear of hoplite formations.
-Although sometimes citizens of the state fought, many Peltast were mercenaries in ancient Greece.
Hoplite
-a heavy infantryman
-Wore armor, a breastplate, helmet, and greaves(to protect the lower leg)
-he was armed with a long spear, 8 to 12 feet long, used for thrusting, and a large rounds shield called a hoplon.
-Fought in close order, shoulder to shoulder
-Usually citizens of the state for which they fought.
Psiloi
-Were the missile troops, completely unarmored
-Could be armed with a bow, a sling, or a small spear
-Rarely carried shields
-fought in an extended open order
-Their job on the battlefield was to take on the enemy ahead of the main group.
-were citizens too poor to afford the equipment of a hoplite
Cavalry
-some armies also had small numbers of cavalry.
-These could be light cavalry, unarmored men in open order armed only with small spheres
-Other cavalry fought in a closer formation
-wore leather or metal armor, and were armed with a sphere and sometimes a shield.
Famous Battles
The Persian war (492-449) B.C.
-Land and sea battle
-The battle of Marathon took place in the first Persian invasion of Greece, and was fought between Athens and Plataea.
-was significant in showing the world that the Persians could be defeated
-This is was created marathon running.
Battle of Salamis 480 B.C.
-It was fought in September 480 B.C. and was fought between the Greek city-states and their enemy Persia took place in the straight between Piraeus and Salamis island near Athens.
-The defeat at Salamis shifted the war in Greece's favor.
-The battle of Salamis was the most important battle in human history.
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