The Persian constantly invaded Greece. The Greeks tried to fight against the Persian Empire at the Battle of marathon and won. This experience taught the Greeks that they can protect their land. At the second strike of the Persian army on 480 BC, the Greeks were prepared. The Spartans and Athenians joined forces to defeat the Persian army lead by their leader King Xeres. The Spartan used their military strength while the Athenians used their wisdom.
The armies came across firstly of the pass of Thermopylae and in the waters off Artemisium. The Persian took the heed but in had another encounter at the Salamis. The Greek army was headed by Themistocles. The Persians outnumbered them but, because of the Greeks wisdom and strength, turned the tides over and won the war. The war inspired that Greek spirit, reminding them that strength is not measured by number but by wisdom and wit. Growth of the Athenian Empire (478-431 BC)
Two years after the victory of Greece in the Peloponnesian war, the seat for power was in constant battle. Aristides created the Delian League, a grand naval alliance whose purpose is to liberate Ionia from Persian rule. The Athenians fought the Persians with the help of the Delian League. The idea of the Athenians form of government is democratic. The form of government proved strong when they defeated yet again another Persian invasion on 467 BC at the battle of Enrymedon.
The Athenian power grew and its neighboring members became alarmed. Pericles was the head statesman of Athens who believed in democracy. He believed not of the interest of the few but of the many. The heightened tension between Sparta and Athens grew. It started when Athens had conflicts with Sparta’s allies like the Corinth and Megara. Pericles even created a law banning trade from Megara. These events sparked the merging of the conflict between Sparta and Athens.