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.