The Persian Wars and Greeces rise of a Classical Age - Assignment Example

The Persian Wars and Greece’s rise of a ical Age The eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor were grounds for fierce battles between Greece and Persia in order to occupy ‘enemy’ land and freedom. The Greeks and Persians engaged in many conflicts at those fronts from 500-323BC. In 559 BC Kyros the Great, became the king of Persia in a city called Anshan. Within nine years he took control of the Median Empire. In 547 BC he conquered Lydia and captured Kroisos. In 539 BC he seized Babylon but nine years later in 530 BC he died and Kambyses became the new ruler. The Persian wars began as an ideological conflict. The Persians were mighty in their strength and treasures. The Greeks were democratic freedom lovers. This is not to portray the Greeks in a heroic light. But the fact is that almost all history of Greco-Persian wars was written by Greek historians, namely Herodotus and Thucydides. Only one account of the events gives one side and undue advantage. But it is also a form of war victory because it is the conquerors that get to write the pages of history. The period from 479-478 was the time of retaliation by the Greeks. At Mycale and Ionia the momentary conflict finally found its resolution when the Greeks chased away the Persian forces. “…In 479BC the Greeks defeated the remaining of the Persian force and ended further threats of invasion.” (Smith 150) But this immediate victory was a curse in disguise for the Greeks. Revolts began within the Greek cities of Asia Minor as many Greek allies started claiming their domination in Greek political matters for they had fought the Persians at Mycale with valor. The battle of Salamis, Cyprus proved to be the concluding fight. Thucydides does not mention any more skirmishes with Persians after this. The Classical Age of the Greeks is the period from 500-479 BCE. It is believed that the ancient Greek culture was at its prime time. They were the rulers of the world in terms of expansion of land and acquisition of wealth. They also dominated the arts and philosophy and left lasting impression on the world history. “The Greece’s culture reached new heights in its Classical Age.” (Smith 181) The classical age of Greeks was a 200 year period. It saw annexation of the modern-day Greece by the Persian Empire. It had an influence on the Roman Empire and is considered the foundation of Western civilization. Architecture, arts and the culture of ancient Greece is mostly a reference to this time. The Ionia, near the coast of Turkey, and regions like Miletus and Halicarnassus, would not remain independent and fell to the Persian forces. The conclusion of these battles was that the Athenian fleet chased away the Persians from the Aegean Sea. The Greeks defeated the Persian fleet battle of Mycale. Later in 478 BC the same fleet took hold of Byzantium. During this period Athens gathered the island states and some mainland regions to form an alliance, called the Delian League. The Spartans had participated in the war but later they went into isolation. This allowed the Athens to form a powerful navy and transform it into a commercial power. The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War 431- 404 BC, marks the period of skirmishes and battles between Athens and the Peloponnesian League. Sparta was leading this league in the southern Greek while Athens was relying heavily on naval forces (Smith et al. 150). War speeches and tributes to murdered soldiers was the highlight of this war. The fallen soldiers of this war were remembered and honored in their deaths when their victims and fellow soldiers would glorify their battle bravery. Persuasive and emotionally charged speeches were delivered. “…Pericles delivered one such speech at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian war in 431 B.C.E. when he honored those who had fallen in the battle.” (Smith page 146) The war itself can be studied in different portions, for instance, the Archidamian War, where Sparta tried to take over Attica. The Athenians were seeking revenge and made full use of their naval dominance. They raided the Peloponnesian Coast to take care of any unrest in the great Empire. This battle concluded on 421 BC where the Peace of Nicias was signed between the two parties. The Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta are still remembered in the history as conflicted because many would claim that they were unnecessary. “In the play Lysistrata Aristophanes has the women of Athens and Sparta withhold sex to force their husbands to recognize the senselessness of Peloponnesian War.” (Smith 152) It was not only the dubious reason for war that troubled the victims. The sheer brutality with which the soldiers fought with each other disturbs the readers and explains inhumane bloodshed during and after the war. No mercy was shown and mass murder was committed. No one side could be solely blamed for the butchery that the world witnessed during the Peloponnesian War. All parties were equally responsible for the barbaric slaughter of people. “Thucydides describes the brutality of all sides in the Peloponnesian War, including indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children” (Smith 158) The conclusion of this long fought battle resulted in the surrender of Athens in 404 BC. Allies also surrendered soon. It was a humiliating defeat for the Athens as they were stripped of their possessions. The final result of the battle gave Spartans a triumphant decisive victory as they turned out to be the saviors of Athens. Seabees and Corinth were adamant in destroying the Athens and enslaving its citizens. The Spartans did not agree to demolish a city that once defended Greece. For a short while democracy in Athens was suspended as it was ruled by the Thirty Tyrants. It was a regime planted by Sparta. Thrasybulus once again sought democracy in 403 BC. The Corinthian war gave Athens another chance to recover from its humiliating defeat. Although it could not recover to its original zenith but it continued to play its role in Greece’s politics. Chinese philosophers come to have a long-lasting influence on the intellect Much of the Chinese philosophy comes from the ‘Spring and Autumn’ and the ‘Warring States’ period. This era was characterized by immensely rich cultural, intellectual and philosophical development. The early Chinese philosophers were successful in having a long-lasting influence on intellectual development of the regions. They ruled over great areas of land for a long time and that was the biggest factor of the long lasting influence of the Chinese philosophers. The first and foremost factor that made them larger than life is being ancient. Time seems to have strengthened the Chinese philosophy. The more ancient it is the more sacred and valued it is. Their intellectual footprints on the world’s literature dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties, “…China’s first empires: The Qin and Han Dynasties 221 BCE - 220 CE.” (Smith et al. 187) where the ancient compendium of divination was born. The Warring States era is where major Chinese philosophies like monism, legalism, Daoism and Confucianism were born. Daoism has specific influence because it later turned from philosophical scripture into an organized religion. “In the later Han period after 25 CE, Daoism became an official religion.” (Smith 188) The Chinese philosophical literature is incomplete without mentioning Zhou. After Chu received his defeat in 278 BC only two great powers remained in China: the Zhao and Qin. Qin was in the West and Zhao ruled the north center. There was hardly any diplomatic tussle because most of the matters were settled by the blades of swords. After capturing a region it was as an obligation to reinforce the victor’s philosophy and literature on a specific region. It was their way of dominating the hearts and minds of the captured area. For this reason the Warring States period and the Zhou era are considered immensely influential on the world’s history map. In the early sixth century BC dynasty the Chinese philosophy grew in leaps and bounds. The renowned Chinese philosopher Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, and the founder of Daoism, Louzy, were the products of this philosophy rich era. The founder of Monism, Mozi and continued the footsteps of Confucius were also among the greats that waved the flag of Chinese influence in the world’s literature. “Chinese literature of the earlier Zhou and warring states period works that would determine the form of literary production for millennia.” (Smith et al. 192) Another fact that places the Chinese philosophers among the highly prestigious classes of philosophers is because of their consistency of producing and influencing the world literature. No outside forces captured China. It was basically one Chinese king fighting against another Chinese ruler. Regardless of the outcome of war Chinese literature and philosophy flourished. The continuing impact of the Chinese philosophers makes them worth the rich academic and historic debate in a long-term context (Smith et al. 199). Comparing the history of Chinese philosophy with other long forgotten ancient cultures it becomes clear that despite the brutality of the Chinese kings and rulers against each other they remain adamant producing literary and philosophical works. They preserved their ancient philosophies and that is why they are still influential. Reference Smith, et al. Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the Worlds Peoples. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. Print. Read More