Ancient Greece 4-3 Persia Attacks the Greeks Spartan phalanx

Essential Questions How did the Persians control so much land? How were the Greeks able to defeat the Persians?

Vocabulary Satrapies – Persian provinces, like states. Satrap – “protector of the kingdom”. Rulers of each province who answered to the emperor, like a governor. Zoroastrianism – Persian religion. Monotheistic. Still has some followers today. Possibly predates Judiasm.

The Persian Empire Circa 500 B.C.

Main Idea: The Persian Empire united a wide area under a single government Persia = today Persia is the area of southwest Iran

Cyrus the Great (r. 559 BC-529 BC) = king of Persia who united the Persians into a powerful kingdom and built one of the world largest empires Conquered northern Mesopotamia, Asia Minor (Turkey), Syria, Canaan, and Phoenician cities Remember: He is the guy who allowed the Jews to return to Canaan from Babylon (ended the Babylonian Captivity) “Cyrus Cylinder” - The cylinder was created in 539 BC, when Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian king. It goes on to describe how Cyrus had improved the lives of the citizens of Babylonia, repatriated displaced peoples (Jews) and restored temples and cult sanctuaries.

Leaders following Cyrus added even more land to the Persian Empire. To connect all their lands = built miles of roads. The Royal Road stretched from Asia Minor to Susa, the Persian capital. CLICK HERE

Persian continued to grow and therefore became more difficult to control. Darius = reorganized the Persian gov’t to make it work better. Divided the empire into 20 provinces = satrapies Satrap = officials who ruled each satrapy (like a governor). Means “protector of the kingdom” Kings power depended on his troops/army Persia’s military = full-time, paid soldiers. Elite soldiers who guarded the king were the “Immortals” (called this because it one died, they were immediately replaced)

Persian Religion = Zoroastrianism Founder by Zoroaster (b. 660) Believe in one God (monotheistic) and the human freedom to choose between right and wrong. Believed goodness would triumph in the end. Some historians believe Zoroastrianism predates Judaism as the world first monotheistic religion. Still practiced today in central Asian countries and India

Persian War Main Idea: Both Sparta and Athens played roles in defeating the Persians 499 B.C. = Athenian army helped the Greeks in Asia Minor rebel against their Persian rulers, but failed King Darius decided the Greeks needed to be stopped from interfering.

The Battles 1) Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.) Darius invades the Greek mainland 20,000 Persians vs. 10,000 Athenians Greek messenger, Pheidippidies, is sent to Sparta to get help (140 miles both ways). The Sparta don’t come on time. Athenians charged the Persian foot soldiers while the Persian cavalry (horsemen) were on the boats Athens win!!! Athenian send a messenger (Pheidippidies) to run back to Athens to report the good news. He yells out “NIKE, NIKE” (“victory”) and collapses dead. This is where we get our modern marathon The Battles “Winged Victory”

The Winged Victory of Samothrace khan academy discussion of the statue (the goddess Nike) khan academy discussion of the statue

2) Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) Persians come by land, marching around the northern edge of the Aegean Sea

Persia vs. Sparta and Athens, and other Greeks (fought for 2 days) Persians win Persian King Xerxes wanted revenge against the Athenians Defeat caused by a Greek traitor who directed the Persians to a mountain path allowing a rear attack With Sparta’s valiant/brave stand, Athens had enough time to assemble 200 ships

3) Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.) = Persians vs. Greeks Greeks win, but Persians entered Athens and burn the city!! Sea Battle in the Strait of Salamis. Greeks with their smaller faster ships defeat the Persian navy. strait = a narrow strip of water between two pieces of land. Greek ships could maneuver well in tight spaces.

4) Battle of Plataea (479 B.C.) = Persians vs. Greeks Greeks win with largest Greek army ever Battle was turning point for the Greeks, pushing the Persians back into Asia Minor. By working together, the Greek city-states saved their homeland History of the Persian War – book by Herodotus

Fall of the Persian Empire Weakened by war Rulers created high taxes Royal families fought over who would be king Sons had little power, so they killed rulers to get power, such was the way with six of the nine rulers after Darius By 330 B.C., the last king was dead and Alexander the Great ruled all old Persian land