Persian Wars

Part 1

Introduction

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDiUG52ZyHQ

Persian War

• At beginning of 5th BCE the Greek City-States faced a serious threat, invasion by the Persians.

• Persia was the largest of all the near eastern-empires (ranging from Egypt to India and the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea).

Persian Wars

Mighty Empire of Persia (Iran) controls much of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Can you find Greece?

http://www.teachinghearts.org/dr0imappersia.gif

Where to go next….?

Persian Wars

Mighty Persian Empire

Versus

Greeks Small, scattered independent city-states that fought each other = weak and obviously “easy pickings”

Just need an excuse to attack….

Persian Wars

www.dimitris.gr/.../ maps/map_miletus.jpg

City of Miletus tired of being under Persian control…Tries to join Greeks. Persians furious and attack

Greece

Miletus

Athens decides to help, destroys Persian fleet

Persian Wars

Greece

Miletus

Persians furious at loss, but happy with thoughts of using revenge as an excuse to take over Greeks….

Persian Wars

Persian leader, Darius, sends huge Persian naval fleet of 600 vessels to attack and destroy Athens….

•Persian navy hit by huge storm…..loses over ½ fleet!?!

•Darius You Greeks are lucky, we’ll get you!

•Athens Sea Gods are on our side!http://www.carteretcountyschools.org/wchs/teachers/cwertz/images/Today'71.jpg

Persian Wars

Takes Darius 2 more years to build another fleet to send..

http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~warfare/Lectures/Images/3.27/07_trireme_oar_system.jpg

Persian Wars

http://www.rom.gr/ROM7/images/afisa01.jpg

Persian Wars

Meanwhile….Darius demands that all Greek city-states apologize.Sends messengers to each city-state to collect “Earth & Water”As a symbol of their submission.Most Greek Polis, fearful of Darius’s wrath, agree…

Earth Water+

But not all…..Who do you think will refuse?

Persian Wars

Spartans consider Persian messenger’s request……

And…

Decide to throw him into a deep well….

There’s your earth and water!

http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/chpi/well.jpg

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qR0Uke2XNI

Persian Wars

http://www.productionpost.com/trireme_A.jpg

Darius furious….sends another 600 ships

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Persians attack at the Plains of Marathon, near Athens

http://ww

w.geocities.com

/ancientgreece2001/marathon.jpg

Persian Wars

Plains of Marathon http://www.greecetaxi.gr/Marathon/Marathon01.JPG

Persian Wars

Athenians see the huge amount of ships and panic.Send a runner (Pheidippides) from the plains of Marathon to Sparta (125kms one way) to request help. Spartans agree.

Pheidippides runs back to warn Athenians.Does all this in 2 days. (250kms total!!!) Pheidippides arrives, gives message, collapses and dies.Today, the sport of “Marathon running” continues!

http://ww

w.ananova.com

/images/w

eb/114098.jpg

Persian Wars~ The Battle of Marathon

Persians Athens

20,000 Hoplites 9600

5000 Cavalry 0

600 Fleet 0

http://www.military-art.com/images/dhm1131.jpg

Prediction…???

Persian Wars

http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/atlases/ancient_warfare/battle_marathon_initial.html

Persian Wars

Athenians: •Heavily outnumbered•No cavalry•No archers•No allied support for many days….•What to do…? What to do….?

ATTACK!Surprised the PersiansAndUsed flanking manoeuvre to force PersiansInto middle and be surrounded.

http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040719/images/marathon.jpg

Persian Wars

http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/atlases/ancient_warfare/battle_marathon_envelopment.html

Another view

http://www1.fhw.gr/chronos/04/en/politics/320exw_persia.html

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Athenians win….BIG TIME!6400+ Persians killedVs192 Athenians….Remaining Persians flee to safety of ships

Persian Wars

Persian Wars

The Persians are frustrated with loss…..now what?They decide to sail towards Athens.Meanwhile, Athenian soldiers trot back to city to celebrate successWhen Persians arrive at city and see the same winning army,They head back home in despair, not willing to fight same killers again.

192 dead buried in ceremonial funeral mound which isstill there today!

http://www.greekislands.com/athens/e_attca3.jpg

Persian Wars

http://lilt.ilstu.edu/drjclassics/lectures/history/PersianWars/attica38MID.jpg

http://www.wheelerexpeditions.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/MOUND.jpg

Persian Wars

Persian Wars

The Battle of the Marathon Plains is over.

But.....

The war with the Persians isn’t……