Persian EmpirePersian Empire

Persian Empire

Persia Becomes an EmpirePersia Becomes an Empire

Persians were nomadic people, they were constantly moving

Persians would often fight other people The Medes took over Persia and ruled for

150 years

Persians were nomadic people, they were constantly moving

Persians would often fight other people The Medes took over Persia and ruled for

150 years

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

550 BC Cyrus II revolted against the Medes He conquered Medes and started the

Persian Empire Cyrus conquered a lot of Southwest Asia,

several Greek cities and Mesopotamia

550 BC Cyrus II revolted against the Medes He conquered Medes and started the

Persian Empire Cyrus conquered a lot of Southwest Asia,

several Greek cities and Mesopotamia

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

He let the people that he conquered keep their way of life so that they wouldn’t revolt.

When Cyrus died in 529 BC, he ruled over the largest empire the world had ever seen

He is known as Cyrus the Great

He let the people that he conquered keep their way of life so that they wouldn’t revolt.

When Cyrus died in 529 BC, he ruled over the largest empire the world had ever seen

He is known as Cyrus the Great

The Persian ArmyThe Persian Army

Cyrus had a strong army-it was well organized and very devoted to him

His army had a powerful cavalry-soldiers who ride horses

He used his Calvary to charge and shoot his enemies with arrows This weakened his enemies and then his foot soldiers would attack

Cyrus had a strong army-it was well organized and very devoted to him

His army had a powerful cavalry-soldiers who ride horses

He used his Calvary to charge and shoot his enemies with arrows This weakened his enemies and then his foot soldiers would attack

The Persian Army Grows Stronger

The Persian Army Grows Stronger

After Cyrus died, his son, Cambyses continued to expand the Persian Empire

He conquered Egypt Then a rebellion broke out in Persia and

Cambyses died 4 days after Cambyses died, a prince named

Darius claimed the throne

After Cyrus died, his son, Cambyses continued to expand the Persian Empire

He conquered Egypt Then a rebellion broke out in Persia and

Cambyses died 4 days after Cambyses died, a prince named

Darius claimed the throne

Political OrganizationPolitical Organization

Darius divided the Persian Empire into 20 provinces

Each province had its own governor or satrap that ruled over that province

Satraps collected taxes and acted as judges but Darius was still the ruler

Darius sent officials to the provinces to check on his satraps

Darius divided the Persian Empire into 20 provinces

Each province had its own governor or satrap that ruled over that province

Satraps collected taxes and acted as judges but Darius was still the ruler

Darius sent officials to the provinces to check on his satraps

Persian SocietyPersian Society

Darius built many roads connecting the empire

The “Royal Road” was 1700 miles long!! The roads were used to send messages

throughout the empire He built a new capital called Persepolis

Darius built many roads connecting the empire

The “Royal Road” was 1700 miles long!! The roads were used to send messages

throughout the empire He built a new capital called Persepolis

Persian SocietyPersian Society

Persepolis was full of beautiful art- carvings and statues

Darius started a new religion called Zoroastrianism

This religion taught that there were 2 forces fighting for control-good and evil

Persepolis was full of beautiful art- carvings and statues

Darius started a new religion called Zoroastrianism

This religion taught that there were 2 forces fighting for control-good and evil

The Persians Fight GreeceThe Persians Fight Greece

499 BC several Greek cities revolted against Persian rule

Greek City states that were not part of the Persian rule, sent soldiers to help the Greek cities fight against the Persians

Persians won the revolt but it made Darius very mad at the Greeks

499 BC several Greek cities revolted against Persian rule

Greek City states that were not part of the Persian rule, sent soldiers to help the Greek cities fight against the Persians

Persians won the revolt but it made Darius very mad at the Greeks

The Battle of MarathonThe Battle of Marathon

9 years after the Greeks rebelled, Darius invaded Greece

His army sailed to the plains of Marathon near Athens

This invasion of Greece began a series of wars between the Greeks and Persians, called the Persian Wars

9 years after the Greeks rebelled, Darius invaded Greece

His army sailed to the plains of Marathon near Athens

This invasion of Greece began a series of wars between the Greeks and Persians, called the Persian Wars

The Battle of MarathonThe Battle of Marathon

Athenian Army had 11,000 soldiers Persian Army had 15,000 soldiers The Athenian army won because they had

better weapons and leaders According to legend, a messenger ran from

Marathon to Athens-26 miles to tell of the victory

Athenian Army had 11,000 soldiers Persian Army had 15,000 soldiers The Athenian army won because they had

better weapons and leaders According to legend, a messenger ran from

Marathon to Athens-26 miles to tell of the victory

After he told the Athenians the news, he fell to the ground and died

Athletes today recreate the Greek messengers run in 26 mile races called marathons

After he told the Athenians the news, he fell to the ground and died

Athletes today recreate the Greek messengers run in 26 mile races called marathons

The Battle of Marathon cont.

The Second Invasion of GreeceThe Second Invasion of Greece

10 years after the battle of Marathon, Darius’ son, Xerxes, tried to conquer Greece again

480 BC the Persian Army and Navy set out for Greece

This time the Sparta joined Athens in fighting the Persians

10 years after the battle of Marathon, Darius’ son, Xerxes, tried to conquer Greece again

480 BC the Persian Army and Navy set out for Greece

This time the Sparta joined Athens in fighting the Persians

The second invasion cont.The second invasion cont.

The Spartan army attacked the Persian Army

Athenian Navy attacked the Persian Navy The Spartan sent soldiers to Thermopylde

where the Persians had to cross to get into the Greek City States

The Spartan army attacked the Persian Army

Athenian Navy attacked the Persian Navy The Spartan sent soldiers to Thermopylde

where the Persians had to cross to get into the Greek City States

The second invasion cont.The second invasion cont.

For 3 days the Spartan army kept the Persian army from crossing into Greek City States

Then the Persians asked a traitorous Greek soldier for a different route into the Greek City States

Persians attacked and killed all Spartan soldiers then attacked and burned Athens

For 3 days the Spartan army kept the Persian army from crossing into Greek City States

Then the Persians asked a traitorous Greek soldier for a different route into the Greek City States

Persians attacked and killed all Spartan soldiers then attacked and burned Athens

The end of the Persian WarsThe end of the Persian Wars

A few days after Athens was burned, the Athenian Navy defeated the Persian Navy in a battle known as the Battle of Salamis

Then armies from all over Greece beat the Persians in a battle called the Battle of Plataea, this battle ended the Persian Wars

Persians were humiliated and Greeks had saved their homeland!

A few days after Athens was burned, the Athenian Navy defeated the Persian Navy in a battle known as the Battle of Salamis

Then armies from all over Greece beat the Persians in a battle called the Battle of Plataea, this battle ended the Persian Wars

Persians were humiliated and Greeks had saved their homeland!

Review QuestionsReview Questions

1. What did the Greeks do that made Darius angry and led him to invade the Greeks?

2. Who was the Battle of Marathon between? Who won? Why?

3. Who joined Athens when Darius’ son, Xerxes, attacked Greece?

4. How did the Persians get past the Greeks so that they could attack Athens?

5. Who won the Persian Wars?

1. What did the Greeks do that made Darius angry and led him to invade the Greeks?

2. Who was the Battle of Marathon between? Who won? Why?

3. Who joined Athens when Darius’ son, Xerxes, attacked Greece?

4. How did the Persians get past the Greeks so that they could attack Athens?

5. Who won the Persian Wars?