The Persian Wars

The Classical Period

Expansion of the Persian Empire

• This is a picture of the Persian capital, Persepolis.

The Ionian Revolt

• This is a relief of the Persian king Darius I.

• Subjects had to pay annual tribute to the king

• The Ionians revolted against Darius.

• Many Greek City-States aided the Ionians with supplies.

• Darius decided the Greeks needed to pay for their acts of war.

The Battle of Marathon

• This is the Battle of Marathon.

• Darius brought the might of the huge Persian Empire to take over all of Greece

• The Greeks are in Red and the Persians in blue.

• The Greek leader Miltades learned the Persians had sent their cavalry ahead to Athens.

Persians Defeated

• The Persians were defeated at Marathon and forced to turn around and go back to Persia.

• A runner ran 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to spread the news, “Nike!” which means “victory!”

Return of the Persians

• Darius passes away before he can complete raising the Persian Army to attack Greece again.

• His son, Xerxes, picked up where his father left off. He was raised to defeat the Greeks.

• Athens and Sparta again worked together; Athens led the Navy and Sparta the army.

The Battle of Thermopylae

• This is a drawing of the Battle of Thermopylae.

• The Persians are not in ranks and the Greeks are in the Phalanx formation.

• The Spartan led army stands its ground until it is eventually defeated.

The Battle of Salamis

• The is the naval battle of Salamis.

• The Athenian led navy defeats the Persian Navy.