Persian Wars Overview

The Persian Wars - Overview

• Freedom vs Slavery?• Democracy vs Tyranny?• Europe vs Asia?• Or empire vs empire?

Background1) Persian Expansion: In the 500s, the Persian Empire expanded to the

borders of Greece

2) Athenian Democracy: In 508BC, Athens became the ‘first’ democracy in history.

3) Ionian Revolt: Greek states revolted against Persian rule between 499-493BC

Battle 1:When: 490BC

Marathon

Where: Marathon, near Athens

How many? c.11,000 Greeks, c.25,000 Persian infantry and 5,000 cavalry

Who: King Darius (Persia), Datis (Persia), Miltiades (Athens), Pheidippides (Athens)

Outcome: Greek victory. Persia forced to flee from Greece.

What: Land battle

Between the Wars…Persia• Darius swore revenge• Egypt revolted in 487BC• Darius died in 486BC• Xerxes became King and focused on

restoring order in his own Kingdom• He spent 4 years raising a force of

200,000 to invade Greece• He sent emissaries to Greece to

demand submission

Persia…continued• He built 800 ships• He had a 2km canal cut through

Mt Athos• He had a bridge of boats built

across the Hellespont• He had ships filled with supplies,

and built depots along the route to Greece

• By 480, he was ready to punish the Greeks

Between the Wars…Greece• Themistocles became a prominent

figure• Athens discovered large silver

deposits• Themistocles convinced Athens to

build a large navy of 200 ships• 31 Greek states met in Corinth in 481

and formed the Hellenic Alliance• Leonidas was put in charge of the

Greek army

Greece…continued• The Spartan Eurybiades was put in

charge of the navy• Internal disputes in Greece were

suspended• Spies were sent to Persia• Ostracised citizens were recalled

to help the war effort• By 480 BC, Greece was united and

ready to face a Persian invasion

The Invasion – 480BC

• Xerxes gathered men from 46 nations in Asia Minor• Using two bridges made of over 300 boats each, he crossed his huge

force across the Hellespont• The army spent over 3 months travelling down towards Athens• A canal was cut at Mt Athos to allow his ships through safely

Xerxes’ Route

The Armies MeetThe Greeks planned to halt the Persian advance at

Thermopylae, a narrow pass north of Athens.

Nearby was Cape Artemisium, where they could position their navy.

Battle 2:When: August 480BC

Thermopylae

Where: Thermopylae Pass, Greece

How many? 300 Spartans, c.7,000 other Greeks, up to 200,000 Persians

Who: King Xerxes (Persia), Leonidas (Sparta), Ephialtes (Greek traitor)

Outcome: Persian victory, yet the Greeks held up Xerxes’ advance for four days.

What: Land battle

Herodotus:

“Then the Hellenes put out to sea and engaged battle with them; and in this battle the two sides were nearly equal to one another; for the fleet of Xerxes by reason of its great size and numbers suffered damage from itself, since the ships were thrown into confusion and ran into one another…”

Battle 3:When: 480BC – same time

as Thermopylae

Artemisium

Where: Artemisium, near Thermopylae

How many? c.300 Greek triremes, c.200 Persian ships

Who: Eurybiades (Sparta)

Outcome: After several indecisive encounters, the Greeks withdrew on news of the defeat at Thermopylae

What: Naval battle

Athens is evacuated

• The defeat at Thermopylae forced the Greeks to reconsider their strategy

• Themistocles convinced his people to evacuate Athens to lure the Persians south

• He argued that they should rely on their naval forces to defeat the Persians, as they were heavily outnumbered on the ground

Themistocles’ masterstrokeHis plan was to force a

naval battle in the narrow straits at Salamis… and destroy the Persian fleet of 800 triremes…

Bold but potentially brilliant…

Battle 4:When: September, 480BC

Salamis

Where: Salamis Island, near Athens

How many? C.380 Greek triremes, c.800 Persian ships

Who: King Xerxes (Persia), Themistocles (Athens), Eurybiades (Sparta)

Outcome: Decisive Greek victory. Xerxes withdrew ready to fight again the following year.

What: Naval battle

The Turning Point

• 390 ships were hidden behind a promontory off the island of Salamis.

• Themistocles sent a false message to Xerxes, saying the Greeks were trying to escape and to send the fleet immediately.

• Xerxes sent 200 Egyptian vessels to the other end of the bay and the rest of the fleet were ordered into the narrow strait off Salamis.

• Greeks attacked. Persians confused and could not manoeuvre their boats.

• Persians were totally defeated.

Aeschylus:

“Forward, sons of the Greeks,

Liberate the fatherland, liberate

Your children, your women, the altars of the gods of your fathers

And the graves of your forebears:

Now is the fight for everything.

Winter break…

• The two sides broke off for winter, in order to regroup

• Xerxes, humiliated, returned to Persia

• He left Mardonius to finish the war in 479BC

• He chose Plataea for the final showdown

• Athens convinced Sparta to join with them again for battle

Battle 5:When: August, 479BC

Plataea

Where: Plataea, southern Greece

How many? c.40,000 Greeks, c.50-100,000 Persians

Who: Mardonius (Persia), Pausanias (Sparta), Aristides (Athens)

Outcome: Greek victory. Mardonius killed, Persian forces fled toward Persia.

What: Land battle

Herodotus:

“so long as Mardonius survived, they held out against them, and defending themselves, they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when Mardonius was slain…then the others too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians…since in truth they were contending light-armed against hoplites”

The End…

• On the same day, the Greeks finished off the Persian navy as well…

Battle 6:When: August, 479BC, same time as Plataea

Mycale

Where: Mycale, Ionia (modern Turkey)

How many? c.6,000 Greeks and 100 ships, c.50,000 Persians and 300 ships

Who: King Leotychides (Sparta)

Outcome: Greek victory. Persian force defeated and fleet destroyed. Greeks returned to mainland.

What: ‘Amphibious’ assault

Herodotus:

“so long as Mardonius survived, they held out against them, and defending themselves, they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when Mardonius was slain…then the others too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians…since in truth they were contending light-armed against hoplites”