Lec 10: The Rise of The Athenian Empire

Vocabulary flashcards covering the rise of Athenian power, the Delian League, key political figures, conflicts with Sparta, and the Periklean Building Program.

Themistocles

The Athenian politician who craftily delayed Sparta while rebuilding Athens' city walls post-Persian Wars; he was later ostracized in 472 BCE when the assembly feared his growing political power.

Cimon

The leading Athenian politician and military commander who replaced Themistocles in 472 BCE, led Delian League forces against Persia, and coerced non-compliant Aegean islands into joining the League before being ousted by Perikles.

Delian League

An alliance of Greek city-states established post-Persian Wars with an initial treasury on Delos; member states contributed ships or money while Athens maintained and commanded the central fleet.

Delos

The sacred Aegean island chosen as the initial neutral meeting place and treasury location for the Delian League.

Perikles

The prominent Athenian leader who ousted Cimon, commissioned the Long Walls, organized the transfer of the League treasury to Athens, and directed the Periklean Building Program on the Acropolis.

Long Walls

Fortified parallel walls constructed under Perikles to connect Athens directly to its harbor at Piraeus, protecting maritime grain imports and making the city un-siegable by land.

Piraeus

The primary port city connected to Athens by the Long Walls, serving as the essential harbor for the Athenian navy and trade imports.

First Peloponnesian War

A proxy conflict fought from 460 to 445 BCE primarily between allies of Athens (including Argos, Megara, Aegina, and Boeotia) and allies of Sparta.

Delian Treasury Transfer

The 454 BCE relocation of the alliance treasury from Delos to Athens following a major naval defeat in Egypt, granting Athens direct financial administrative control over the League.

Peace of Callias

The peace agreement signed in 451 BCE following Athenian military success in Cyprus, formally concluding the Persian Wars.

Thirty Years Peace

A peace treaty signed in 446 BCE between Athens and Sparta following mainland rebellions and an impending Spartan invasion, leaving Athens in control of the Aegean maritime domain.

Periklean Building Program

A massive public construction initiative launched by Perikles using League funds to construct monumental civic and religious architecture centered around the Acropolis.

Parthenon

The chief temple dedicated to Athena on the Acropolis, constructed during the Periklean Building Program to house a giant gold statue of Athena and store the Delian League's wealth.

Propylaia

The monumental gateway building serving as the main entrance to the Athenian Acropolis, incorporating both Doric and Ionic column styles.

Temple of Athena Nike

A temple erected on the Acropolis as part of the Periklean Building Program, dedicated to Athena as the goddess of victory.

Erechtheion

An asymmetrical Acropolis temple dedicated to Athena Polias, Erechtheus, Poseidon, and Boutes, famous for its porch supported by sculpted female Caryatid columns.

Doric Order

A classical Greek architectural order defined by plain capitals, fluted column shafts without individual bases, and friezes containing alternating triglyphs and metopes.

Ionic Order

A classical Greek architectural order defined by slender fluted columns on molded bases, topped by capitals with decorative double spiral volutes.

Helot Revolt

A major uprising of Spartan serfs/slaves that occurred alongside a major earthquake in Sparta, preventing Sparta from carrying out an intended invasion of Athens.

Megara

A Greek city-state that allied with Athens during the First Peloponnesian War, but was later blockaded and starved around 431 BCE by Athens over a religious dispute.