The Persian Empire and Persian Wars

Persia vs. Greece

The Extent of the Persian Empire

The Religions of Persia

• Zoroastrianism– Zoroaster, a Persian prophet– Struggle between evil and good, all are involved– Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda– Popular amongst Roman military

• Judaism

Remember Cyrus?• Developed a vast Persian Empire• First emperor of Persia• Conquered the Ionian Greeks

Cyrus’ Legacies

• Religious Tolerance–Cyrus honored local religious customs–Welcomed Jews to return to Jerusalem

• Civility –Armies did not loot conquests–Kind toward conquered peoples

After Cyrus…

• Darius seizes throne in 522 BCE–Crushed revolts–Expands empire into Greece, farther into Egypt, farther north into central Europe

Key Player: Darius

• Under Darius – Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persia to gain independence

• Athens helped the Ionian Greeks by sending aid

• Persia stopped the Ionian rebels and wanted revenge on Athens for interfering with their personal business

Ionians lived here Ionians lived here →→

• As we read the selection, “The Persian Wars”, think about the causes of the wars, the important leaders and battles, and the effects of the wars. You’ll be creating a comic strip of them afterwards!

The First Persian War: 491-490 BCE

Killing the messenger

Hoplite

Phalanx

Pheidippides running from Marathon

The Second Persian War 480-479 BCE

Xerxes

King Leonidas of Sparta at the battle of Thermopylae

Battle of Salamis

Battle of Plataea

The Aftermath: Effects of the War

• Both Athens and Sparta claim credit for victory over Persia = led to problems

• Sparta was still very weak after Thermopylae

• Athens emerges as the most powerful city-state (bully)

• Athens creates the Delian League (alliance with other city states to protect themselves if Persia ever returns)

• Athens rebuilds their city-state better than ever, and they experience a GOLDEN AGE.

Last Stand of the 300

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8MF6I9Tw4– Start at 1:10