The Persian War

Western Civilization

Objective

• Students will understand the causes, course of events, and effects of the Persian War.

Why Are Wars Fought?

• Turn to the person sitting next to you. Try to come up with at least three reasons that wars are fought.

• Record 3 reasons on your cloze & discuss.

• 499-449 B.C.• Athens and Sparta vs. Persian Empire

Persian Wars

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Causes of war

• In 499 BC, Ionian Greeks under Persian control rebelled.

• Athens supported the Ionian Greeks & sent ships to help them.

• The Persians were angry that Athens had interfered with their affairs.

The Persian Empire was expanding,

a. Greece was their next target.

The Persians had an easy time conquering the Chaldean (neo-Babylonian) Empire as well as the civilizations along the Indus River Valley.

What could keep them from conquering the puny, disunited city-states of Greece?

Persian Wars (499-449 B.C.[E.])

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• Huge empire ruled by a powerful king (Darius then Xerxes, Xerxes was ruler during the Battle of Thermopylae)

• Huge army (100,000 Immortals)• Power over Greeks in Anatolia (Asia

Minor) for many years

Persian Empire

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Greece all alone!

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Causes of War, Cont.

• In 492 BC, King Darius I of Persia demanded an offering of “earth and water” (symbols of submission) from all Greek city states.

• Spartans disliked Athenians, but worked together when threatened.

• The 300: “This is Sparta”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkWS9PiXekE

(19 seconds advertisement)

• Side note from Ben Thompson: Under Darius, the Persian Empire reached the pinnacle of its power and the fullest extent of its size.  His domain consisted of over 40 different ethnic tribes, stretched from India to the Balkans, and covered almost three million square miles – almost twice the size of Caesar's Rome, and the largest empire of Antiquity.  In his 36-year reign, Darius re-built this mighty Empire into one of the world's foremost powers, married six different women, and was pretty much righteously awesome in all possible respects. 

Darius the Great

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkWS9PiXekE

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Major Battles

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• Greeks in Anatolia don’t want to be under Persian rule

• Ionians revolt against Persian rulers

• Ionians say they are free• Persian King, Darius, is furious• Marks the beginning of the

Persian Wars• Persians defeated the Ionians,

but Darius held a grudge. He had his advisor remind him of the Greeks 3 times a day!

Ionian Revolt

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Map of Greece and Western Asia Minor

• King Darius (Persia) wants to conquer Greece and stop all rebellions for good.

• He burned Athens (though the citizens had left) and sailed to the Bay of Marathon.

• A very important battle occurs.

Persia Invades Greece

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• The Greeks were outnumbered 100,000 to 20,000• Athenian soldiers used surprise attacks and

different formations to defeat the Persians.• One guy called it a suicidal maneuver… BUT:• Dead: 192 Greece 6,400 Persian• Persians sailed home, tails between their legs.• Greeks won!

Battle of Marathon

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Victory at Marathon

• In 490 BC, the Athenians were out numbered by Persians at Marathon.

• Athenians defeated the Persians.

• The Greeks still prepared for more attacks.

The First Marathon

• Pheidippides ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of victory before dropping dead. Today’s marathon honors this run!

Battle of Marathon

Battle of Marathon

Marathon

• 10 years after Marathon, Xerxes is the leader of the Persian empire.

• Xerxes wanted revenge…• Spartans and Athenians fought together.• Sparta was beating Persians for 2 days to

distract Persians from other Greeks.• Greek traitor shows Persians secret way to

attack Greek army• 300 Spartans fight to the death to allow

other Greeks to retreat• Heroic Act, but Persians won!

Battle of Thermopylae

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The Battle of Thermopylae

• Led by King Leonidas, a small Spartan forces held back the mass of Persian troops.

• Although defeated, the 300 soldiers gave the Athenians time to seek safety and prepare their navy to defeat Xerxes.

• Greek unity defeated the Persian threat.

• The 300: Final Scene

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• Greeks retreat to Island of Salamis •Persians follow them• Greeks pretend to sail away and

then come back and ram slower Persian ships

•Half of Persian fleet was sunk• New King, Xerxes, leads his army

back home• Greeks won!

Battle of Salamis

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• Advantage of fighting at home• Better trained and more disciplined

soldiers• Used the element of surprise!• City-states united

How did the Greeks Win?

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• Athens is independent and takes charge of the Aegean Sea.

•Political independence for all city-states

• Innovations in culture and government

•Athens begins to dominate Greece.

Results of Greek Victory

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The Spartan Soldier

• http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/sparta

Results of the Persian Wars

• Increased Greek sense of uniqueness.

• Athens became most powerful city state.

• Athens organized the Delian League, an alliance with other city states.

Response Journal

The popular film, The 300, portrays the Spartan troops at the battle of Thermopylae as heroes.

1. Do you believe that these soldiers were heroes? Why or why not?

2. Can fighting in a war be ethical? What makes a war “just”?

3. Is it ok for a film like The 300 present a glorified view of warfare?