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[[Image:beginnings_hist_greece.jpg|550px]]

[[Image:beginnings_hist_greece.jpg|550px]]

The beginning of the ancient or classical Greece (see map above) was 776 B.C.  The peak of ancient or classical Greece was 500-336 B.C. when Greece consisted of many small city-states, each comprising a city and surrounding countryside.

The beginning of the ancient or classical Greece (see map above) was 776 B.C.  The peak of ancient or classical Greece was 500-336 B.C. when Greece consisted of many small "city-states".  A city-state is a nation containing only one city.

Why didn't classical Greece begin before 776 B.C.?  After all, Greeks migrated southward into the Greek peninsula as early as about 1600 B.C.  But from 1600 to 1100 B.C. was a period known as Mycenaean Greece, when progress was slow and few noteworthy advances were produced.  The period from 1100 to 800 B.C. was the "dark ages," during which there was little progress and from which little survived.  The momentous event that heralded the beginning of ancient or classical Greece was the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.  This played a unifying role for the culture, and the Olympics were then held every four years for nearly 1000 years until A.D. 393, when they ended.  They were restarted in A.D. 1896, and again held every four years.  (The winter Olympics did not begin until A.D. 1924, in France.)

Why didn't classical Greece begin before 776 B.C.?  After all, Greeks migrated southward into the Greek peninsula as early as about 1600 B.C.  But from 1600 to 1100 B.C. was a period known as Mycenaean Greece, when progress was slow and few noteworthy advances were produced.  The period from 1100 to 800 B.C. was the "dark ages," during which there was little progress and from which little survived.  The momentous event that heralded the beginning of ancient or classical Greece was the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.  This played a unifying role for the culture, and the Olympics were then held every four years for nearly 1000 years until A.D. 393, when they ended.  They were restarted in A.D. 1896, and again held every four years.  (The winter Olympics did not begin until A.D. 1924, in France.)

The large cities dominated the areas around them.  Sparta, for example, exercised influence over the other cities of the Peloponnese, which was the large island in south Greece, connected to the mainland (where Athens was) by only an isthmus (a thin pathway of land).  Sparta was allied with Corinth and Thebes, but was an enemy of Athens.   

The large cities dominated the areas around them.  Sparta, for example, exercised influence over the other cities of the Peloponnese, which was the large island in south Greece, connected to the mainland (where Athens was) by only an isthmus (a thin pathway of land).  Sparta was allied with Corinth and Thebes, but was an enemy of Athens.   

Athens instituted a semi-constitutional system of government run by aristocrats, most notably Pisistratus and his sons. Ultimately the Pisistratids lost power, and '''the world's first democracy was established in 500 B.C. in Athens'''  The powerful body became an assembly open to all (male) citizens.

Athens, as a city-state, instituted a semi-constitutional system of government run by aristocrats, most notably Pisistratus and his sons. Ultimately the Pisistratids lost power, and '''the world's first democracy was established in 500 B.C. in Athens'''  The powerful body became an assembly open to all (male) citizens.

The Greek city-states were remarkable because they adopted a form of democracy that inspired our Constitution:  citizens elected representatives who would then make decisions for everyone.  But there was only a legislature in Athens and no president or court system, so there was no separation of powers that is unique to our Constitution.  Also, not all Greek males in Athens were citizens.  The city-state of Athens had 225,000 residents at its peak, but only 30% of the males were citizens.  Males born to families with large incomes became citizens.  Still, Athens is considered to have invented "democracy", and its residents felt an allegiance to the State because of this.

The Greek city-states were remarkable because they adopted a form of democracy that inspired our Constitution:  citizens elected representatives who would then make decisions for everyone.  But there was only a legislature in Athens and no president or court system, so there was no separation of powers that is unique to our Constitution.  Also, not all Greek males in Athens were citizens.  The city-state of Athens had 225,000 residents at its peak, but only 30% of the males were citizens.  Males born to families with large incomes became citizens.  Still, Athens is considered to have invented "democracy", and its residents felt an allegiance to the State because of this.

The Persian King Cyrus conquered the Ionian Greek city-states on the western shore of Asia Minor in 546 B.C., but in 499 B.C. Athens encouraged support for a revolution against the Persian empire.  Athens came to the aid of the Ionian city-states when they revolted against their Persian masters.  Other Greek city-states also helped the Ionian city-states.  

The Persian King Cyrus conquered the Ionian Greek city-states on the western shore of Asia Minor in 546 B.C., but in 499 B.C. Athens encouraged support for a revolution against the Persian empire.  Athens came to the aid of the Ionian city-states when they revolted against their Persian masters.  Other Greek city-states also helped the Ionian city-states.  

Furious, Darius suppressed the revolution and then sought to punish Athens in particular.  In 490 B.C., Darius brought his army to the plains of Marathon, just north of Athens and prepared to invade the rich city-state.  Outnumbered ten to one by the Persians, the Athenians sent an athlete named Philippides to run 150 miles to Sparta in an attempt to enlist the aid of the Spartans.  Ironically, the Spartans — with their military-obsessed society — refused to come, as they were in the middle of a festival!  However, Athens proved strong enough on their own to defeat the mighty Persians, and won a stunning victory on the plains of Marathon.  Ambitious joggers (including Sarah Palin!) imitate the long "marathon" run as inspired by the remarkable athlete Philippides.

Furious, Darius suppressed the revolution and then sought to punish Athens in particular.  In 490 B.C., Darius brought his army to the plains of Marathon, just north of Athens and prepared to invade the rich city-state.  Outnumbered ten to one by the Persians, the Athenians sent an athlete named Philippides to run 150 miles to Sparta in an attempt to enlist the aid of the Spartans.  Ironically, the Spartans — with their military-obsessed society — refused to come, as they were in the middle of a festival!  However, Athens proved strong enough on their own to defeat the mighty Persians, and won a stunning victory on the plains of Marathon.  Ambitious joggers imitate the long "marathon" run as inspired by the remarkable athlete Philippides (also known as Pheidippides).

Xerxes, who had succeeded Darius, tried again in 480 B.C. to defeat Greece.  This time he had a massive army of 200,000 Persians and a strong navy.  He marched the army to a narrow pass in the mountains at Thermopylae.  But he was met by 300 Spartans, the finest soldiers in the world, and they gave their lives to delay the Persians at the pass.  Ultimately the Persians broke through the mountains by using an alternate route given to them by a Greek traitor.  The Persians then conquered and ransacked ("sacked") Athens.  But Athens was able to strike back and defeat the Persian navy at Salamis in 479 B.C., and went on to conquer the Persian army the same year at the Battle of Plataea.  '''Athens had won and became the dominant city-state.

Xerxes, who had succeeded Darius, tried again in 480 B.C. to defeat Greece.  This time he had a massive army of 200,000 Persians and a strong navy.  He marched the army to a narrow pass in the mountains at Thermopylae.  But he was met by 300 Spartans, the finest soldiers in the world, and they gave their lives to delay the Persians at the pass.  Ultimately the Persians broke through the mountains by using an alternate route given to them by a Greek traitor.  The Persians then conquered and ransacked ("sacked") Athens.  But Athens was able to strike back and defeat the Persian navy at Salamis in 479 B.C., and went on to conquer the Persian army the same year at the Battle of Plataea.  '''Athens had won and became the dominant city-state'''.

The Athenian triumph in the Persian Wars (with the help of Sparta) in 466 B.C., and the subsequent peace beginning in 450 B.C., catapulted Athens to a great power'''.  It controlled the sea and commerce.  Pericles (495–429 B.C.) rose to political prominence and rebuilt the Parthenon and other monuments in Athens.  The city encouraged the creation of wealth, and it became the intellectual center of the world.  Many of the most famous thinkers of the ancient world lived there.  The Golden Age of Athens was the period when Pericles held power, also known as the Age of Pericles.  Pericles expanded democracy in Athens by granting the right to hold government offices to all citizens and providing salaries for public service in government and on juries.

The Athenian triumph in the Persian Wars (with the help of Sparta) in 466 B.C., and the subsequent peace beginning in 450 B.C., catapulted Athens to a great power.  It controlled the sea and commerce.  Pericles (495–429 B.C.) rose to political prominence and rebuilt the Parthenon and other monuments in Athens.  The city encouraged the creation of wealth, and it became the intellectual center of the world.  Many of the most famous thinkers of the ancient world lived there.  The Golden Age of Athens was the period when Pericles held power, also known as the Age of Pericles.  Pericles expanded democracy in Athens by granting the right to hold government offices to all citizens and providing salaries for public service in government and on juries.

'''This "Pericles Age" was the "Golden Age" of Athens.  It was a time of prosperity and peace, occurring between the the Persian and Peloponnesian wars'''.

'''This "Pericles Age" was the "Golden Age" of Athens.  It was a time of prosperity and peace, occurring between the the Persian and Peloponnesian wars'''.