Greeks & Persians: Cross-Fertilization & Conflict (499 BC) - Essay Sample

Introduction

The Greeks and Persians existed through cross-fertilization and were not in isolation. The Greeks and Persians conflict started in 499 BC between the Achaemenid Empire and Greek city-states. The collision with Greek in the political world began when Cyrus the Great won over the Greek inhabited region of Lonia. The first invasion to Greece began in 492 BC through the general Mardonius subjugating Thrace and Macedon before the campaign forcefully came to an end. While there was victory over the allied Greek states in the famous battle of Thermopylae, it allowed us as the Persians to forcibly evacuate Athens and overrule most of Greece. While we were struggling with the combined Greek fleet, we suffered a severe defeat from the battle of Salamis.

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A year after, in the confederated Greeks fleet offensively defeated our army during the battle of Platea, and this ended Greece from invading in the Achaemenid Empire. After various fights with the countries, Persia avoided any more conflicts with Greeks through setting Athens against Sparta and continuous bribing of politicians to create peace. The main aim of the plan was to distract Greeks through internal disputes, and this made them not to turn their attention to Persia. The battles, however, stopped until 396 BC when the Spartan king invaded the Asia Minor.

Alexander the Great conquered most of the world of the ancient Greeks and was one of the greatest and influential military commanders. Alexander created a war against the Achaemenid Persian Empire under Darius III, where he overthrew and defeated him. His conquest helped him expand his boundaries to Taxila in India as his empire. When Alexander took over the triremes, the Persians ignored his movement. However, the Greek mercenary, Memnon of Rhodes, advocated for a strategy of the scorched earth. He supported for Persians to destroy the land when Alexander was watching, and he hoped that this idea would force the army of Alexander to suffer and turn back from their area.

After several wars with Persian, Alexander moved deeper into the country and freed the population by allowing self-government. He appointed independent boards on the Persians land to collect tributes and taxes from the satrapies that helped in improving government efficiency. Alexander ruled over most parts of Persian, and he allowed them to continue doing their regular tasks as long as they did not impose the Greek customs. Alexander won the conquest when Asia Minor approached him to ask if we could have democracy, and alexander gained our wish and allowed us to stop paying taxes to Persia only if we accepted to join the league of Corinth. Greeks, however, were much better during the political and diplomatic relations, and Persia had a little control through avoiding war through making them focus on internal conflicts. However, when Alexander the Great took over the power, he ensured that he won through taking over the Persians.

Archeological Findings

The Greek culture made a lot of contributions to mathematics, medicine, and astronomy. Through various research, it has helped this fields understand the basics of science. It has also created an influence on today's religion, traditions, and customs of many tribal communities. The Greek culture was known for its sophisticated sculpture and architecture. The Greek culture also influenced the Roman Empire and many civilized countries today. However, Greek culture continues to change modern perceptions today and the economy. Literature and theatre was an essential aspect in the Greek culture as it helped unite the people, and it continues to influence modern drama.

Greeks fought in many wars amongst themselves and other states; however, they needed weapons to use in the war and included the spears, swords, warship, and ballista. The artifacts were critical in protecting lives and from threats. The spears were well designed, such that they were effective in slashing and stabbing. The spears were made out of sharp irons head and bronze and mainly used in battles. The spears helped to save many lives of the Greeks and designed to be effective during war. The spears are essential in the lives of many individuals today since it acts as a tool of self-defense, and yet crimes have reduced compared to the past, it is still necessary for individuals to have it even though considered dangerous and illegal. Literature generally assumes that any person holding a spear is vulnerable, but it is for their good and protection.

The armor and shield are vital in today's worlds as it protects the security personnel when going to war, and it saves many lives. The helmet and shield in the Greece culture protected the soldiers form spears, arrows, and other weapons. It was important in war and used to smash the spears of the enemy and protect the Greek soldiers from the enemies' attacks. The spears and the armor and shield of the ancient time have been innovated and is currently being used in the modern culture by many nations to solve criminal cases and in war cases. The questions asked through archeological evidence are why the contemporary government and the public are not motivated to preserve the great heritage in the form of forts, caves, and monuments? Was Alexander the great so powerful that any Persian leader could not overrule him? The questions tend not to be answered by the archaeological evidence.

Events Leading to Athenian Democracy

Solon, Cleisthenes, and Ephialtes contributed to the development and growth of the Athenian democracy. Cleisthenes led to the power of the nobility by grouping individuals into ten groups based on their locations instead of their standards of living. After the death of Pericles, the democratic leader, the Athenian democracy, was interrupted by the revolutions of oligarchic at the end of the Peloponnesian war. The Athenian democracy modified after the restoration of Eucleides as the most significant account of the system in the modification of the fourth century.

In the late 460 BC, an ancient politician overlooked the practices that diminished the power of the Areopagus, and many historians, traditional conservatism bastion, consider that. His actions led to the development of the new government and improved the Democratic Party's program. A democratic culture created is through individuals grouping together in groups of ten, and terms of wealth level not considered to enhance the power of each group. Democracy in Athens was a direct democracy and started by the philosopher Pericles and people decided on the policy initiatives directly, and the general assemblies made significant decisions of the state through the participation of all people. The democratic culture developed quickly due to the political system of legislation of Athens and its executive bills. The involvement of the political system only involved the adults, mainly the male.

The standard format for Athens was speakers giving a speech without government intervention or opposition. Voting was based on the majority, and the powers exercised by the assemblies were limited. Athens's activities are distinctive from other cities because it was led by the archons that were elected after every year and initially became the birthplace of democracy. The city of Athens, however, was named after the goddess of wisdom, and education was essential to the town. However, it is also distinct from other cities because it ruled for over 100 years with direct democracy. Girls in Athens city were not restricted from engaging in various activities like war and education. The idea of Athens getting along with Greeks was to rule more and more land and made it distinctive from other cities.

Sparta's Role in Greek History in the Archaic and Classical Period

During the Peloponnesian war, Sparta launched many invasions of Attica while Athens always took advantage of its naval supremacy to raid the coastal regions of the Peloponnese, and its main attempt was to suppress the signs of unrest in its empire. Sparta received a lot of support from the Achaemenid Empire and was of much assistance in Athens subject states in the Aegean Sea, and Ionia and Sparta undermined the Athens Empire and deprived the city of naval supremacy. Sparta citizens participated in the compulsory state-sponsored education system where all children were allowed to learn. The boys of Sparta were also allowed to participate in the country and military service centered on loyalty. The youths also engaged in socialization known as the Agoge and taught various duties and the importance of discipline.

Sparta was a warrior society that reached the level of its power in defeating rival cities. Sparta's role was on producing good soldiers and feared by many people in Greeks. They also played a significant role in Greek victory over the enemies, the Persians. Much research has shown that Sparta was not only concerned with war but rather in producing beautiful objects and flourished poetry. The objects that the citizens made provided a lot of evidence on the high points in the Spartan culture. Good soldiers help to protect the country and ensure that other states avoid causing conflicts to the nation. Since Persian and Greek had a lot of disputes, then Sparta supported Greek through fighting during the war, and also Alexander the Great helped the state in winning. Sparta also had five men called the ephors who helped the kings in making decisions and watching over them. Religion in Sparta played a significant role in the warrior society.