A Short History of Athens
Outline Founding Fathers Oligarchs, tyrants and democrats Athens and Sparta The Delian League Peloponnesian War Pericles Empire Disaster and Recovery Macedonia The Long Decline
Task Using the information presented create a timeline of the 5 most important events in the history of Athens
Founding Fathers Athens bursts onto the scene relatively late in Greek history (no notable achievements before the 7th century BC) however, the Athenians would become the most important people in the development of western culture Attica was perfectly placed in Greece, on the Aegean, and is surrounded by vast plains Due to its poor soil (suitable for olives and wine) Athens would become traders and seafarers was unaffected by the Dorian invasion and becomes a
Oligarchs, tyrants and democracy by the 7th century monarchy has turned to aristocracy the nobles of Attica (eupatridae- well-fathered) rule via a council (aeropagus) council chooses 7 archons each year to rule, once appointed they sit on the council for life also an assembly for the middle class the ecclesia, but it has very little power Solon, an archon, reforms Athenian society
Solon s reforms removed the pillars from peasants land (when you owed money your creditor could put a pillar on your land to show that you were in debt) abolishing their debt makes it illegal to be enslaved by a creditor makes membership in the council dependent on wealth not birth increases the power of the ecclesia and makes every citizen a member, and gives them a role in choosing archons (lays foundation for democracy)
In 560 a popular general, Peisistratus, seizes power in Athens. He rules as a benevolent dictator. Athens enjoys an unprecedented period of prosperity. Attica is united. Trade develops in a period of prolonged peace. Impressive public buildings are constructed in Athens, including the first Parthenon on the acropolis. On his death, in 527, Peisistratus is even succeeded peacefully by his son, Hippias. But Hippias is toppled in 510 when the nobles of Attica, eager to get power back into their own hands, enlist the help of Sparta.
Athens & Sparta 508-478 BC The involvement of the Spartans is unsuccessful. In 508 power is won with popular support by an aristocrat, Cleisthenes, who undermines the power of his own class by creating a democracy. He allows all citizens, regardless of wealth, a voice at local level where the demos (the people) becomes the heart of political life. He gives an increased role to the ecclesia, which every citizen can attend as a participating member. When the aristocratic Spartans return, in 506, they are defeated in battle by the Athenian democrats.
In 480 the threat from Persia brings Sparta and Athens together, with most of the other city-states of mainland Greece. During this time the leading position of Sparta is acknowledged by all. By the time the Persians withdraw at the end of 480, Sparta's military reputation has been enhanced at Thermopylae and Plataea. The Athenians, by contrast, have lost their city, laid waste by the Persians. Yet on balance it is the Athenians who emerge stronger. The navy which routs the enemy at Salamis is largely theirs. And it is becoming evident that control of the Aegean Sea is the best defense against Persia.
The Delian League in 478 several city-states meet at Delos to form a coalition against Persia members will contribute ships and men for common defensive purposes (in rare cases money) Sparta does not take part as she is not a naval power and consequently Athens soon becomes the dominant force the League achieves a few minor victories against the Persians
soon Athens starts to treat the League as an empire members are forced to remain in the League, except now they must pay money each year and the treasury of the League is moved from Delos to Athens as well Athens rebuild her walls even connecting Athens to the harbour, 8 kms away this upsets the Spartans (who have no walls) and they call for Athens to dismantle her walls
Build-up to the First Peloponnesian War: 478-460 BC Sparta is having difficulty in retaining the loyalty of the members of its own Peloponnesian League, several of whom adopt democratic governments hostile in principle to the Spartan oligarchy. Sparta's troubles are compounded by a devastating earthquake The earthquake destroys much of the city of Sparta and kills many Spartiates - the Greek term for Sparta's warrior citizens. The helots seize the opportunity to rise in revolt. The Spartans manage to contain the rebels but they lack the strength to defeat them. They appeal to their allies for help. Athens, at this stage technically an ally of Sparta, is among the city-states which send an army.
the Spartans send the Athenians back without using them in the campaign Athens feels that they have been snubbed and this increases the tension between the two powers Athens then signs alliances with two states opposed to Sparta and war breaks out
Pericles and the heyday of Athens 462-433 BC while his main political opponent is away Pericles, an aristocrat, successfully diverts power away from the Areopagus to the Athenian people Athens is now a direct democracy Pericles slowly consolidates power, he is put in charge of constructing the long walls, negotiates a treaty with Sparta, controls the funds of the Delian League, elected as general for 15 consecutive years
Empire and Return of War 445-431 BC the Athenian empire is consolidated and expanded by Pericles Pericles blunders in supporting a colony of Corinth trying to revolt, Sparta sees this as a violation of the treaty Thebes, an ally of Sparta, attacks Plataea, an ally of Athens, and the Peloponnesian war starts
Disaster & Recovery (404-338 BC) the war is a disaster for Athens, she loses on all fronts and are forced to take down their long walls to the harbour life continues for the Athenians, Socrates and Plato are both alive at this point Sparta has the opportunity to unite Greece but fails to do so Athens begins to recover, the Delian League is resurrected and they defeat the Spartans in a naval battle Thebes defeats Sparta at Leucrta and seriously damage Spartan power and prestige
Emergence of Macedonia 356-338 BC Demosthenes warns the Athenians about the threat of Philip II of Macedon but they are slow to respond joint army of Thebes and Athens is defeated by Philip in 338
Long decline (from 1st century BC) from this point forward Athens will be under foreign control, first by Macedonia and then by Rome
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