Course and Effects of the Persian War - Literature review Example

Civilization history Persian War: and effects Persian war has often been regarded as a war that made an indelible mark in world history. The war attracted worldwide attention due to its duration and the heavy loss it caused to both the Persians and their opponent, the Greeks. Historical sources show that during 800 BC many Greeks moved along the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the west intended to set up new city states. One of such city states was established along the Agean Sea where they were discontented at the Persian rule that imposed them certain taxes. This incident paved the way for the so-called crisis between Persians and the Greeks, eventually leading to war. The disagreement caused for many invasions, starting with Darius-I, the Persian king in 490 BC. Contrary to the expectation of Darius-I to get over Athens and Sparta completely, he lost his advisers sent to these countries and ultimately lost battle in Manhattan. The second invasion was also not different from the first as the Persians tasted failure for the second time, though they could attain a temporary victory under Xerxes, the Persian King at that time. The battle that began in 480 BC ended with the tragic failure of the Persian army to the combined forces of Athens and Sparta (The Percian War). Xerxes first won the battle against the Greeks with a massive invasion of 150,000 troops, almost seven hundred navel ships and hundreds of supply ships. The Greek army defended the Persian invasion with a force close to nine thousand under the leadership of the Spartan king, Leonidas, and his contingent of three hundred Spartans… (Spielvogel and Duiker 106). The Persian onslaught led the Greek retreat to the island of Salamis and then challenging the Persian navy to fight and defeating them. Spielvogel and Duiker identify that “A few months later, early in 479 B.C.E., The Greeks formed the largest army seen up to that time and decisively defeated the Persian army at Plataea, Northwest of Attica” (106). As they were free from the threat of the Persians, this victory enabled the Greeks to pursue their own destiny. Historical studies have unveiled the various effects of the Persian war, extending from Peloponnesian war to that of the dominance of Athens over the Spartans and to great wealth and great arrogance. One can find the direct outcome of the Persian war as the division of Greece into ‘Sparta and its supporters and the Athenian maritime empire’ (Spielvogel and Duiker 107). After the Persian war, Greek identified the growth of Athens as the supreme power that formed a defensive alliance against the Persians called the Dellian League in the winter of 478-477 B.C.E. The League worked for the Athenians and pursued the attack against the Persian Empire and exerted a decisive role in liberating the Greek states in the Aegean from the grip of the Persians. The tremendous influence of Persian War on Greek religion is also to be noted when regarding the effects of Persian war. It has even paved the way for Hellenic life and culture. The victories against the Persians supported the growth of religion and culture among the Greek city states. The Greek culture and religion flourished during the reign of Pericles in Athens. B. Compare and contrast Athens and Sparta. Among the areas of comparison, include religion, military, social and political cultures and physical settings? A comparison of Athens and Sparta will expose many similarities as well as disparities. Athens and Sparta are the two city states in Greek that attained independence or self government after their victory in the Persian War. Both Athens and Sparta had tried to get hold of power and dominance in Greece and this feeling of dominance reached its peak after the Greco-Persian War, especially at the time of Pericles ruling Athens. Historical analysis of Athens and Sparta has revealed considerable similarities in the religion, language and the superiority of these two countries on other non-Greeks. But one can identify their differences in their life style, economy and government. The worship of Spartans was concerned with the demons and Holy Father. The online journal entitled; “Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History” makes a clear observation about the Spartan worship. The article says, “The relationship of the Spartans with the daemons Dioscuri, Kastor and Polythephki, can be the stamp of the Sparta’s identity, in addition, of their devotional relationship of “holy father’s” worship; meaning the sons of Zeus” It adds, “Kastor and Polythephkis were the protectors of the state” (Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History). This clearly throws light to the method of worship of the Spartans and the decisive role of religion that united the people of Sparta. The religious beliefs in Sparta exerted predominant roles in establishing a link between their gods to the political and social institutions of that country. Regarding the Spartans, one can see that “… they also worshiped Apollo Larneios and Apollo Chalkioikos. Unlike other parts of Greece, Hephaestus was not worshipped in Sparta. They worshipped Helen, Leucippide and Lykourgos also” (Spartans vs. Persians). But even then, one can see that the Spartans did not worship Dionysus, the god of wine as they did not drink wine. The Athens religion and form of worship was to an extent similar to that of the Spartans. It can be considered as equal to the method of worship existed in all Greece. The Greeks in ancient time followed pagan worship and there were “many central ideas and concepts of earlier form of paganism, such as Druidism, both ancient and Modern and Witchcraft and Wicca”(Paganism; Past & Present). The Greeks followed polytheism, worshiping many gods. The Greek worship had involved many rituals, rites, ceremonies and sacrifices as they strongly believed that they should please and impress the god. They had also erected temples and other places of worship to offer sacrifices to god. The Greeks also believed in the afterlife awaited for one after the death. As they frightened the afterlife, they tried their best to please the god through various offerings and sacrifices which is essential for attaining a good life in the other world. The picture of the Greek religion is clear when observing that “Greek religion was ritual based, practicing a flexible set of beliefs. It was unlike many modern religions, because it made no claims of universality, they did not proselytize, they did not participate in regular clergies, no hierarchical system, no sacred texts or moral code that is backed by religious beliefs” (Paganism; Past & Present). One of the significant differences between the Spartans and the Athenians can be identified when observing their lifestyles. When the Spartans followed a simple lifestyle, Athenians liked to appear in a modern outlook. Military education was compulsory in Sparta but not in Athens. However, the educational standards were high in Athens that the students could pursue several kinds of arts, literature and sciences. The rigorous training of the Spartans made them such soldiers who would never lose a battle. They trained their children from the tender ages itself and were not ready for any compromise regarding the quality of the training. At the same time the Athens could raise its standards as a creative wonderland where almost all the adult members were educated and were free enough to pursue their interests to study arts of sciences (Sparta vs. Athens). Like the difference in lifestyle, one can also find differences in the economy of both Athens and Sparta. While the Spartans earned money through their military conquests and expeditions, the main source of Athenian income was from trade and agriculture. Reading through the historical texts, one can find disparities in the governments also. The online article entitled; “Athens or Sparta” makes it clear when it rightly observes, “Governments in Ancient Greece also differed immensely. In Sparta, they were under an oligarchy run by five ephors and a thirty man senate, these thirty-five men truly made all decisions for all of the city-state although there was a public assembly. But, in Athens, they were under a democracy which is a government where the people run the city-state” (Athens or Sparta).These words underlines the fact that though Athens and Sparta were the two city-states of Greece, there are differences in their lives. The study leads one to the conclusion that Athens and Sparta are the two city-states of Greece that exerted significant role in forming the history of Greece. They fought against the invasion of the Persians and contributed much in building the present Greece with its rich culture and tradition. The comparison of Athens and Sparta has brought many similarities and disparities. The religions or the form or method of worship in both the regions are to an extent similar. Both Athens and the Spartans followed polytheism, worshiped many gods and believed in the afterlife. They frightened god and offered sacrifices to please god. One can find differences in the lifestyles of Athenians and the Spartans as the former pursued education and the latter military expedition. The notable feature of Athenians and the Spartans is that though they followed different life styles they could imprint their indelible marks in history. There are also differences in their economy and in the form of government. When Athens followed trade and agriculture as the means of their income, the Spartans were chivalrous and earned wealth through their military expeditions. To conclude, one can infer that Athens and Sparta have considerable similarities and differences. Works cited: Athens or Sparta. Trifter. Web. 27 Oct. 2010 http://trifter.com/europe/greece/athens-or-sparta/ Duiker J. W. & Jackson J. S. World History: To 1800. illustrated edn.5.Cengage Learning, 2006. Print. Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History. Markoulakis Publications. 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2010 http://www.sparta.markoulakispublications.org.uk/index.php?id=32 Paganism; Past & Present. Oracle think quest education foundation. Web. 27 Oct. 2010 http://library.thinkquest.org/28111/newpage2.htm Sparta vs. Athens. Buzzle.com. 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2010 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sparta-vs-athens.html Spartans vs. Persians. reComparison 2010. Web. 27 Oct. 2010 http://recomparison.com/comparisons/100203/spartans-vs-persians/ The Persian War. Oracle think quest education foundation. Web. 27 Oct. 2010 http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_greece/persian_war.htm Read More