Lecture Notes: Origins of Plato and the Greek-Persian Wars

Introduction

• Story begins in Lydia, ancient Turkey.
• Lydia was a major economic and food ally for Greece, supplying food across the Aegean Sea.
• Athens relied heavily on Lydia for food.

Persian Conquest and Rebellion

• Lydia conquered by the Persian Empire; set up a puppet leader, Aristagoras.
• Aristagoras seeks to become a king by rebelling against Persians.
• Seeks military aid from Sparta (fails due to a supposed religious festival).
• Turns to Athens, which agrees to help, leading to the liberation of Lydia from Persian control.

Consequences of Athenian Involvement

• Persians notice Athens, beginning hostilities.
• Persian King Darius reconquers Lydia, plots against Athens with former Athenian dictator Hippias.
• Athenians led by Miltiades, a former Persian general, who informs them of Persian strategies.

Battle of Marathon

• Persians attack Athens landing at Marathon.
• Athenians outnumbered but use strategic planning to win.
• The victory makes Athens notable in the eyes of the Persians.

Persian Retaliation and Greek Defense

• King Darius dies; succession issues delay further Persian attacks.
• Xerxes, new Persian king, launches a major attack on Greece.
• Themistocles of Athens prepares a naval defense using silver from a mine to build a navy.

Herodotus and Historical Record

• Herodotus, known as the father of history, provides accounts of Greek-Persian conflicts.
• His stories are entertaining but sometimes factually questionable.

Formation of Greek League

• 31 Greek states form a league to resist Persia, led by Sparta.
• Spartans delay Persians at Thermopylae, showcasing their infantry skills.

Battle of Salamis

• Themistocles deceives the Persians, leading them into a trap at Salamis.
• Athenian navy uses triremes to destroy Persian ships, turning the tide in the war.

Rise of Athens and Periclean Era

• Athens emerges victorious, enters a golden age under Pericles.
• Promotes Athens as culturally and intellectually superior.
• Begins rivalry with Sparta, leading to the Peloponnesian War.

Athens' Defeat and Philosophical Reflection

• Athens loses to Sparta due to a plague and military struggles.
• This defeat spurs intellectuals like Plato and Aristotle to reflect on governance.
• Plato's "Republic" explores the concept of an ideal government.

Next Steps

• Students are assigned to watch a video about Plato and Aristotle for further learning.
• The focus on understanding how Athens' loss led to philosophical inquiries.