Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/123

The Repulse of Persia 77 Greece. In 460 B.C. a handsome and brilliant young citizen named Pericles was elected general and was able for thirty years to play the role of boss in Athens. He was one of the most successful rulers in the world's history. 115. War with Sparta. Pericles favored a policy of hostility toward Sparta, and induced the people to construct two long walls from Athens down to the shore so that they could reach the port of the Piraeus without danger from a besieging army. The long war which finally broke out between Athens and Sparta dragged on for fifteen years and greatly weakened both cities. Moreover, Athens lost a fleet trying to protect Egypt, which had revolted from the Persian kings. When peace was concluded with both Sparta and the Persians it proved to be only a truce, for still more disastrous conflicts were to follow until the Athenian power was broken. But Athens is not remembered on account of the fighting that was going on almost continuously, but for her writers, philosophers, and artists, and now we may turn to this more cheerful side of her history. QUESTIONS I. Compare the civilization and resources of Greece and Persia at the time of the first Persian invasion. How did Persia happen to be so close a neighbor to Greece? What were the results of the first two Persian invasions? Describe briefly the famous^ battle of Marathon. How far is Marathon from Athens ? What circumstances induced the Athenians to build a fleet ? Describe briefly the third Persian invasion. II. Contrast Athens and Sparta at the time of the expulsion of the Persians. How did Athens develop into a powerful empire? Why was the government of Athens called a democracy ?