Athens at War in the 5th century — OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation

This topic covers the military and political history of Athens during the 5th century BCE, focusing on the Persian Wars (490–479 BCE) and the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE). Students will explore key battles such as Marathon, Salamis, and the Sicilian Expedition, as well as the strategies of leaders like Themistocles, Pericles, and Alcibiades. The topic also examines the transformation of Athens from a leading Greek city-state to an imperial power and its eventual defeat.

Understanding Athens at war is crucial because it shaped the development of democracy, military tactics, and international relations in the ancient world. The conflicts highlight themes of leadership, hubris, and the fragility of power, which are central to Classical Civilisation. This topic also connects to broader themes in Greek history, such as the rise of Sparta and the role of the Delian League.

In the OCR GCSE, this topic is part of the 'War and Warfare' component, requiring students to analyse primary sources (e.g., Thucydides, Herodotus) and evaluate different perspectives. Mastery of this content helps students understand how Athens' military decisions influenced its cultural and political legacy, including the Parthenon and the works of Sophocles and Euripides.

• →The Delian League: Initially a defensive alliance against Persia, it became an Athenian empire used to fund Athens' navy and public works.
• →Themistocles' naval strategy: His emphasis on building a strong fleet (e.g., the 200 triremes) was decisive at Salamis and established Athens as a naval power.
• →Pericles' strategy: During the Peloponnesian War, he advocated avoiding land battles with Sparta and relying on Athens' walls and navy, but this led to overcrowding and plague.
• →The Sicilian Expedition (415–413 BCE): A disastrous Athenian campaign that weakened Athens militarily and financially, leading to its eventual defeat.
• →Hubris and nemesis: A recurring theme where Athenian overconfidence (e.g., in Sicily) led to divine retribution or strategic failure.

• Understanding of temple layout including the naos/cella and cult statue
• Knowledge of the position and function of the altar
• Roles and responsibilities of Greek officials (hiereus, hiereia, mantis)
• Roles and responsibilities of Roman officials (Pontiffs, Pontifex Maximus, Augurs, Vestal Virgins, Haruspex)
• Understanding the purpose and process of animal sacrifice
• Ability to compare Greek and Roman temple use and religious practices
• Knowledge of specific prescribed temples: Parthenon, Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Pantheon, Temple of Fortuna Virilis

• 💡Ensure you can identify and describe the key features of the prescribed temples
• 💡Be prepared to compare the role of priests and priestesses in both cultures
• 💡Use specific terminology (e.g., naos, cella, hiereus, haruspex) accurately
• 💡Practice linking visual evidence from temple architecture to the literary descriptions of sacrifice
• 💡Use specific examples from primary sources: For instance, quote Thucydides on Pericles' Funeral Oration to discuss Athenian values, or Herodotus on Themistocles' cunning at Salamis. This shows depth of knowledge.
• 💡Evaluate causation: When discussing Athens' defeat, consider multiple factors (e.g., plague, Sicilian disaster, Persian funding of Sparta) rather than a single cause. Examiners reward balanced analysis.
• 💡Link military events to political/social changes: For example, how the Peloponnesian War led to the oligarchic coup of 411 BCE or the trial of the generals after Arginusae. This demonstrates wider understanding.

• Confusing the roles of specific Greek and Roman religious officials
• Failing to link the physical layout of the temple to its religious function
• Generalising religious practices without distinguishing between Greek and Roman contexts
• Neglecting to use both literary and visual/material evidence in arguments
• Misconception: The Persian Wars ended with the Battle of Marathon. Correction: The wars continued until 479 BCE with battles like Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea; Marathon was only the first major Greek victory.
• Misconception: Athens and Sparta were always enemies. Correction: They fought together against Persia (e.g., at Plataea) and only became bitter rivals during the Peloponnesian War.
• Misconception: The Delian League was purely voluntary. Correction: Athens forced members to stay, crushed revolts (e.g., Naxos, Thasos), and used league funds for its own projects like the Parthenon.