THE PERSIAN WARS3.4 | East v. West

FIRST, OUR NARRATOR Everything we know about the Persian

Wars comes from the Greek historian Herodotus First person to write down history, for the

sake of writing history Accuracy is another issue, as is bias

IONIA The western coast of Asia Minor

Heavily populated by Greeks from colonization Close ties with the mainland

Slowly absorbed by the expanding Persian Empire in 546 B.C. Prospered under Persian rule [independence of city-states]

The tyrant of Miletus, urged the Persians to invade Naxos [in the Aegean] Failure To avoid Persian punishment for the waste, he instigated an Ionian

rebellion Justified rebellion by claiming Greek independence 499 B.C.

ATHENS GETS INVOLVED Ionia sends word across the Aegean [help]

Athens is wealthy, powerful, and sees a chance to expand political and economic power in Ionia

Responds by aiding the rebellion In 498 B.C. Athens and its allies land in Ionia and burn the

Persian regional capital of Sardis They then withdraw

THE PERSIANS RESPOND King Darius I (r. 521 – 486 B.C.)

Reimposes regional hegemony By 494 B.C. Miletus was crushed and the rebellion ended

Athens still bothered him however Every night at dinner, “Sire, remember the Athenians”

490 B.C. Darius assembles an expedition to punish the Athenians They would sail from the Middle East by sea

THE BATTLE OF MARATHON 490 B.C.

26 miles from AthensThe Persian fleet begins unloading their armyAn outnumbered Athenian army decisively defeated the Persians Absolute shock [Persian reputation] – messenger sent to Athens

XERXES Succeeded his father in 486 B.C.

Vowed revenge on the Greeks Began preparing an invasion force

Would number some 180,000 men and thousands of naval vessels (Herodotus says 2.6 million)

It must go by land, too big to transport via sea The Greeks understood they could not field an army

to compete Many Greek states would form a defensive alliance with

Sparta

THE ATHENIANS Knowing that Xerxes was coming for

them Went to the Oracle of Delphi to consult the

gods “A wooden wall will survive the destruction of

Attica” Rather than joining with the Spartans,

Athens began building their fleet

THE WAR The Greeks, despite their differences, would be united by

common goals They would fight for a greater concept, or idea That of Greek independence and freedom To survive Persia, they would need to band together and fight

as, Greeks This was new Typically they fought for Athens, or Sparta, or Corinth, et cetera

THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE 480 B.C.

7,000 Greeks and 300 Spartans were sent to defend the Thermopylae pass A choke point in Greece’s mountainous terrain to hold the PersiansThe point was to hold the Persians long enough to mobilize all Greek armies

XERXES BURNS ATHENS 480 B.C.

After the victory at Thermopylae, Xerxes entered Athens and burned itRevenge at last, but the Athenians were not thereThe entire population had taken to the sea

THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS 480 B.C.

The Athenians lured the Persian fleet into the strait of SalamisAmbush and complete destruction of the Persian fleetThe 180,000 strong Persian army lost its supply chainThe bulk of the army was forced to return to Persian territory

THE PERSIANS RETREAT

A small Persian army is left behind [compared to the 180,000]The Greek army organized by the Spartans could now defeat itThe Battle of Plataea 479 B.C.

THE AFTERMATH OF THE PERSIAN WARS Greek unity showed its power

The underdog defeated the Persian Empire Persia would never again invade Greece Greece would be divided on who gets credit for victory:

Sparta or Athens