The Persian Wars

Persian Wars Basics When: 499-479 BCE Who: Allied Greek city states v. the Persian Empire

Persia Largest empire the world had ever seen Ruled by powerful kings

546 BCE: This belongs to Persia now haha! Before the War When? 546 BCE Persia conquers the Greeks along the Ionian coast and force them to pay tribute (taxes) to the Persian Empire 546 BCE: This belongs to Persia now haha!

Ionian Revolt When: 499 BCE Ionians asked the naval power of Athens to help them gain independence Athens sends a fleet and wins a quick victory and then goes home Ionians are left to fight for themselves By 493 BCE the Persians had defeated the Ionians

Helmet with face guard and plume Wooden circular shield Greek Soldier Helmet with face guard and plume Long spear Wooden circular shield Bronze chest armour Greaves (leg armour) Greek warriors were known as hoplites. They fought in groups called phalanxes.

Phalanx Central Idea: Group is more important than the individual Each person has a shield and a spear The shield cover themselves and the person to their left

Long slim hull for speed Greek Trireme Sail Group of hoplites Rowers below deck Bronze battering ram Three rows of oars Greek warships were known as triremes. The name trireme means ‘a ship with three rows of oars’. Long slim hull for speed

Battle of Marathon 490 BCE Athenian army had to fight alone Tricked the Persian army into a position where there could attack on three sides Phalanx formation proved effective against Persian foot soldiers

Pheidippedes Run Ran 150mi journey from Marathon to Sparta in 2 days to ask for help Sparta said no Also said to have run the 26mi from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory! Then he died  Modern Marathons use this number of miles

Xerxes Attacks King Darius dies in 490 and his son Xerxes takes over Launches a new invasion of Greece in 480 BCE Crosses the Hellespont (literally Bridge of Greece) known today as the Dardanelles Ropes hundreds of boats together to cross the water

Battle of Thermopylae Greeks needed to slow the Persian Army down so that it did not get to Athens so quickly Thermopylae was a narrow pass through the mountains A traitor betrayed the Greeks and showed the Persians a way around the pass Persians attacked from the rear

Battle Outcome King Leonidas of Sparta sent most of the 7,000 Greek troops ahead to Athens to save them 300 Spartan soldiers fought to the death to slow down the Persians Gave Athens enough time to get 200 ships ready for battle

Battle of Salamis Greek fleet of triremes attacked the Persian fleet at the strait of Salamis Strait: narrow strip of water between two pieces of land

Battle Outcome Greek ships were smaller and faster and could turn better in tight spaces Persian fleet was practically destroyed Persians then attacked Athens & burned it down

Battle of Plataea (479 BCE) Largest army of Greek soldiers ever By working together, the city-states defeated Persia Persians went back to Asia Minor in defeat

Importance of the Persian Wars Athens, Sparta, and other Greek city-states came together to fight Persia Athenian victories at Marathon & Salamis left Athens in control of the Aegean Sea Athens was not conquered so it continued to make innovations in the field of government and learning