Prelude to the Peloponnesian War | World History | Khan Academy
TLDRThe video script delves into the Greco-Persian wars, highlighting the pivotal moments that led to the Persian invasion of Greece and the subsequent conflicts between Athens and Sparta. After the Athenians' victory at Marathon and the naval defeat of the Persians at Salamis, tensions arose between the once allied city-states. Athens, bolstered by its strong navy, began constructing the Long Wall for protection and expanded its influence through the Delian League, which Sparta viewed as a threat. The Spartan insecurity grew, leading to a series of skirmishes known as the First Peloponnesian War. Despite a brief 30-year peace treaty, the underlying animosity culminated in the Peloponnesian War, which ended with Sparta's victory but left Greece weakened and vulnerable to future invasions.
Takeaways
- ⚔️ The Greco-Persian wars were a series of conflicts between Greece and Persia, with the Persians being repelled at Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea.
- 🏰 After the Persian invasion, Athens decided to build a defensive wall around the city, which raised concerns among the Spartans due to its strategic implications.
- 🤔 Spartans felt threatened by the growing naval power of Athens and the construction of the Long Walls, fearing it could limit their influence and military dominance.
- 🌊 Athens leveraged its naval strength by forming the Delian League, an alliance aimed at continuing to counter Persian threats, which also served to expand Athenian influence.
- 🏺 The Delian League evolved into an Athenian empire, which further fueled Spartan insecurity and tension between the two city-states.
- 👷♂️ In 464 BCE, a major earthquake in Sparta led to a Helot revolt, which Athens attempted to assist with, but Sparta, feeling insecure, rejected the help.
- 🛡️ The rejection of Athenian aid after the earthquake and the subsequent actions of Athens led to increased animosity and a breakdown in relations between the two city-states.
- ⚖️ A dispute between Corinth and Megara, two Spartan allies, led to Athens' intervention and the formation of an alliance with Megara, escalating tensions further.
- 💥 The culmination of these tensions and skirmishes over a decade led to the First Peloponnesian War, a series of conflicts between Sparta and its allies versus Athens and its allies.
- 🕰️ The First Peloponnesian War ended with a 30-year peace treaty, which was short-lived, lasting only 15 years before the larger Peloponnesian War erupted.
- 🏛️ The Peloponnesian War, which occurred later, resulted in Sparta's victory but left most of Greece weakened, setting the stage for later vulnerability to external threats, such as from Macedonia.
- 🌟 The accounts of these historical events are primarily derived from historians like Herodotus and Thucydides, emphasizing the importance of considering the source and perspective of historical narratives.
Q & A
What were the Greco-Persian wars?
-The Greco-Persian wars were a series of conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire, which included the Persian invasions of Greece. The most notable battles include the Battle of Marathon and the naval battle at Salamis.
How did the Athenians stop the first Persian invasion?
-The Athenians were able to stop the first Persian invasion at the Battle of Marathon, where they successfully repelled the invaders.
What was the significance of the Battle of Salamis?
-The Battle of Salamis was significant as it was a naval battle where the Athenians and their allies routed the Persian navy, which was a turning point in the second Persian invasion.
What was the Long Wall and why was it constructed?
-The Long Wall was a defensive structure built by the Athenians to protect their city from potential invasions. It provided them with access to the sea and was a means to safeguard the city in the event of a siege.
Why did Sparta feel threatened by the Athenian navy and the construction of the Long Wall?
-Sparta felt threatened because the Athenian navy had proven to be very strong during the Greco-Persian wars, and the construction of the Long Wall would make it difficult for Sparta to exert influence or take down Athens if necessary.
What was the Delian League and how did it contribute to the tensions between Sparta and Athens?
-The Delian League was a naval alliance formed by Athens and its allies to continue fighting against the Persians. Over time, it became more of an Athenian empire with Athens exerting control over its members, which made Sparta increasingly insecure and unhappy.
Why did Sparta reject the help of Athenian Hoplites during the Helot revolt?
-Sparta rejected the help of Athenian Hoplites due to their insecurity and fear that Athens might take advantage of Sparta's vulnerable state to support the Helots and potentially take over Sparta.
What were the First Peloponnesian War and the Thirty Years' Peace?
-The First Peloponnesian War was a period of sporadic skirmishes between Sparta and its allies against Athens and its allies, which lasted for about 15 years. The Thirty Years' Peace was a peace treaty that followed the end of the First Peloponnesian War, but it only lasted for 15 years before tensions led to the larger Peloponnesian War.
What was the outcome of the Peloponnesian War?
-The Peloponnesian War concluded with Sparta being victorious. However, the process significantly weakened most of the Greek city-states, leaving them vulnerable to future attacks, particularly from Macedonia in the fourth century BCE.
Who were the Helots in Sparta?
-The Helots were a subjugated population in Sparta, often considered as slaves. They were treated poorly and lived in harsh conditions, with a high ratio of Helots to Spartan citizens which led to tensions and revolts.
Why was the construction of the wall at the Isthmus of Corinth suggested by Sparta?
-Sparta suggested the construction of a wall at the Isthmus of Corinth as a strategic move to control the narrow land connection between the mainland and the Peloponnese, which was crucial for anyone wanting to conquer the Peloponnese by land.
Outlines
🏰 The Rise of Athenian Power and Spartan Concerns
This paragraph discusses the aftermath of the Greco-Persian wars, where Athens, having successfully defended against Persian invasions, begins to fortify itself by constructing walls around the city. The move is seen as a defensive measure against potential future invasions, but also raises concerns among the Spartans, who view the growing naval power and fortifications of Athens as a threat to their own dominance. The Athenians' decision to build the Long Walls to protect their city and maintain access to the sea is met with apprehension by Sparta, which suggests an alternative wall at the Isthmus of Corinth. The narrative also touches on the historical perspective, emphasizing the importance of considering the source and motivations behind historical accounts, with a transition from Herodotus to Thucydides as the primary source of historical information.
🌐 The Delian League and the Shifting Power Dynamics
The second paragraph delves into the formation of the Delian League, an alliance formed by Athens and its allies with the initial purpose of continuing to counter Persian threats. However, Sparta becomes increasingly uneasy as Athens begins to dominate the league, effectively turning it into an Athenian empire. Athens' refusal to heed Spartan advice on the construction of the wall and its growing naval power exacerbate tensions. The insecurity of Sparta is further highlighted by the events of 464 BCE, including a major earthquake and subsequent Helot revolt in Sparta, to which Athens responds by sending 4,000 Hoplites. However, due to their own insecurities, the Spartans reject Athenian aid. The paragraph concludes with the First Peloponnesian War, a series of skirmishes between Sparta and its allies against Athens and its allies, which ultimately leads to a 30-year peace treaty. The ongoing power struggle and conflict set the stage for the Peloponnesian War and the eventual rise of Macedonia in the fourth century BCE.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Greco-Persian Wars
💡Athens
💡Sparta
💡Persian Invasion
💡Xerxes
💡Plataea
💡Long Wall
💡Delian League
💡Helots
💡Peloponnesian War
💡Isthmus of Corinth
💡Megara
Highlights
The Greco-Persian wars are discussed, including the Persian invasions of Greece.
Athenians successfully halted the first Persian invasion at the Battle of Marathon.
The second Persian invasion led by Xerxes was defeated at the naval Battle of Salamis.
The Persians were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE.
Initially, Sparta and Athens fought together against the Persians, but their alliance would later break down.
The importance of considering the source and perspective of historical accounts is emphasized.
Herodotus, known as the father of history, is the primary source for the Persian invasions.
Thucydides provides accounts of the Peloponnesian War, which is closely linked to the Greco-Persian wars.
Athens decided to build a wall around the city for protection, which concerned Sparta.
Sparta felt threatened by the growing strength of the Athenian navy.
Athens formed the Delian League, an alliance that eventually became an Athenian empire.
Sparta's insecurity grew as Athens expanded its naval power and influence.
A major earthquake in Sparta in 464 BCE led to a Helot revolt, which Athens helped to suppress.
Sparta's distrust of Athens' intentions led them to reject Athenian military aid during the Helot revolt.
A dispute between Sparta's allies Corinth and Megara led to Athens' intervention and the beginning of hostilities.
The First Peloponnesian War consisted of sporadic skirmishes between Sparta and Athens from 460-459 BCE to 15 years later.
The First Peloponnesian War ended with a 30-year peace treaty, which only lasted for 15 years.
The Peloponnesian War proper occurred later, ending with Sparta's victory and significantly weakening Greek city-states.
The aftermath of the Peloponnesian War left Greece vulnerable to external threats, particularly from Macedonia.
Transcripts
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