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499-479 B.C.
Lesson 3: Page 73 in your textbook
The Greco-Persian Wars
Historical Sources
Herodotus, the main historical source for this conflict
Thucydides continued Herodotus's narrative
Causes of the Greco-Persian Wars
Guiding Question 2: What did the Greek city-states do to defend themselves against Persian invaders?
Guiding Question 1:What caused a series of wars between Greece and its rival, Persia?
Where is Persia?
The Challenge of Persia
As the Greeks colonized throughout the Mediterranean, they came into conflict with the Persian Empire to the east.
The Challenge of Persia
By the mid-sixth century BC, the Persian Empire controlled the Ionian Greek cities in western Asia Minor.
The Challenge of Persia
In 499 BC, these Ionian cities attempted a revolt against the Persians and their ruler, Darius.
The Ionians were assisted by the Athenian Navy.
The Challenge of Persia
The revolt was unsuccessful. In fact, it was crushed rather quickly. But their attempt prompted Darius to seek revenge.
Darius decided to punish Athens for helping the colonies.
After training for a few years, Darius sent troops to invade Greece.
Revenge of Darius
Athens asked Sparta to help, but Spartan troops would not arrive for 9 days (they were in the middle of religious festivals)
Call for Alliances
Other jealous city-states decided not to help Athens against the Persian Empire
So Athens took on the mighty Persian Empire by themselves
The Persian ships sailed to the Bay of Marathon, only 26 miles from Athens.
Battle of Marathon
Persian troops—100,000
A Serious MismatchA Serious Mismatch
Did Athens really have any hope against these odds?
Athenian troops—20,000
Persian SoldiersPersian Soldiers
The Athenian army was well-trained and did not break formation as they charged the Persian lines
Victory!Victory!
The organized charge surprised the large but scattered (and poorly organized) Persian army
The Persian soldiers turned and ran from the oncoming Athenians. The Athenian army almost drove the Persians back to the sea
A SlaughterA Slaughter
Final tallyPersians—6, 400 deadAthens—192 deadDarius returned to Persia never to return
Connection to the PastConnection to the Past
The modern marathon has its roots in the Battle of Marathon.
A Greek soldier, Phidippides, ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) to tell the Athenians of the Greek victory, and to warn them that the Persians may try to attack.
Phidippides died from exhaustion after delivering his message. Today’s 26 mile marathon races commemorate his heroic act.
Connection to the PastConnection to the Past
Phidippides Arrival at AthensPhidippides Arrival at Athens
What were the main causes of the first war between Greece and Persia?
Bellringer – Write a Paragraph
The Second Persian War 480 B.C.
The Empire Strikes Back
After Darius died in 486 BC, Xerxes became the new Persian emperor.
Xerxes promised revenge and planned to invade Greece.
Sparta joins the fight
In preparation for the attack, some of the Greek states formed a defensive league under the Spartans.
The Spartan league was led by Spartan warrior king Leonidas.
Athenian Strategy
The Athenians however, followed a new military policy insisted on by Themistocles, one of the Athenian military leaders.
This policy was to strengthen their navy. By the time the Persians invaded in 480 BC, the Athenians had a fleet of about 200 ships.
The Persian Side
Xerxes led a massive invasion force into Greece. His forces included about 180,000 troops, and thousands of warships and supply vessels.
Battle of Thermopylae
The Persian army lands in northern Greece
They were met by a force of Greeks at a narrow mountain pass called Thermopylae
Battle of Thermopylae
This small mountain pass controlled access to all of Greece.
Battle of Thermopylae
The Greeks tried to delay the Persians at Thermopylae, along the main road to central Greece.
A Greek force of about 7,000 held off the Persian army for two days.
300 Spartans
A group of 300 Spartans in the Greek army were especially brave.
When told that Persian arrows would darken the sky in battle, one Spartan responded “That’s good news, we will get to fight in the shade”
Primary Source
“Here they (the Spartans) defended themselves to the last, such as still had swords using them, and the others resisting with their hands and teeth; till the barbarians who….now encircled them upon every side, overwhelmed and buried the remnant that was left beneath showers of missile weapons.”
-Herodotus, The Persian Wars
300 Spartans
A Greek traitor showed the Persians a secret passageway. This allowed the Persians to sneak up from behind and attack the GreeksMost of the Greek defenders ran away, but the 300 Spartans fought until their deaths.
Athens Burned
The Persians poured into Greece. They got their revenge by burning Athens to the ground. What were the Greeks to do?
Battle of Salamis
As their city-state burned the Athenian people and the army escaped to the island of Salamis. The Persians were quick to follow.
The Athenian navy would play a key role in their victory.
Those Clever Athenians
When the Persians approached Salamis, the Greeks ships first sailed from shore like they were fleeing the island.
They then turned quickly around and began ramming the Persian ships. Before the Persians knew what had happened, half of their fleet was on the ocean floor
How did the Greeks do it?How did the Greeks do it?
Three reasons1.Inherent advantage of the defender2.They were better soldiers 3.They used the element of surprise
Effects of the Persian Effects of the Persian WarsWars
1. Victory in the Persian Wars increased the Greeks’ sense of their own uniqueness.
2. The gods, they felt, had protected their superior form of government, the city state (polis), against invaders from Asia.
3. Athens emerged from the war as the most powerful city state in Greece.
