1. Pg. 286

2. THE PERSIAN EMPIRE Under Cyrus the Great, the Persians built an empire larger than any yet seen in the world! (559 to 530 B.C.). It was about the same size as the USA is today!

3. Great leader Started off Persian Empire by defeating Medes Conquered much of Southwest Asia and Asia Minor, and East into central Asia WHY IS HE CALLED “GREAT”? He treated conquered people very well Let them keep their own customs Less likely to rebel Great respect for him PARTNER CHECK: By treating his enemies better than previous rulers, do you think it helped keep the Persian Empire together better? Why or Why not? CYRUS THE GREAT

4. Cyrus had a strong, well organized, and loyal Army IMMORTALS: army of 10,000 chosen for bravery and skill CAVALRY: unit of soldiers who ride horses. The cavalry would charge first and shoot enemy with arrows to weaken them Almost unstoppable THE PERSIAN ARMY

5. Cyrus, and then his son, died Darius I became ruler Political Organization divided into 20 provinces governors (Satraps) ruled each province, collected taxes, judges, and put down rebellions EMPIRE EXPANDS

6. Built many roads to connect empire Royal Road was over 1,700 miles long Persian messenger system (very fast) Built new capitol- tons of carvings and works of art New religion arosre: ZOROASTRIANISM There are 2 fighting forces; good and evil PERSIAN SOCIETY

7.  Darius conquered entire Indus Valley  Wanted to move the empire west as well  PROBLEM: Greek city-states in Asia minor rebelled against Persians. Mainland Greece sent soldiers to help  Persians won the fight, but Darius was upset that the Greeks helped PERSIAN EXPANSION

8.  Darius decided to invade Greece at Marathon nine years later  Persians had 4,000 more soldiers, but Greeks won b/c better weapons and leaders  Started a series of wars called the Persian Wars PERSIAN WARS

10. THIS IS HOW WE GOT THE MARATHON RACE! THE RUNNER, PHEIDIPPIDES RAN 25 MILES FROM MARATHON TO ATHENS, AND DIED FROM EXHAUSTION IN ATHENS.

11. PERSIANS STRIKE AGAIN * Xerxes (Zurghseez) became king of Persia after Darius’s death -wanted revenge for the loss at marathon 7,000 Greeks held off the Persian army in a narrow mountain passage near Thermopylae Themistocles took Athenian navy to cut off Persian supply ships in the sea Greeks were betrayed by another Greek who showed the Persians a passage through the mountains King Leonidas and his Spartans fought the Persians while they saved time for the other Greek armies to get to safety HENCE, the movie 300!

12. WARRIORS

13. CAUSE/EFFECT They say because the Spartans fought to the death against the Persians, the Athenians were able to gather enough ships to destroy the Persian navy! Greeks attacked Persian fleet in straight of Salamis Yet, the Persian army marched to Athens and burnt the city to the ground. (cause/effect: how do you think the Greeks responded to this?) ADD THE ANSWER TO YOUR NOTES- PG. 291