1. The Persian Wars

2. Causes Greek colonies in Asia Minor rebelled against Persian Rule

3. The Mother cities like Athens sent aid to those cities, which made the Persians mad – According to legend, the Persian Emperor Darius was so mad, he had a servant whisper “Master, don’t forget the Athenians” into his ear every day.

4. Battles The Greeks made expert use of the terrain to their advantage – For Example, they used the mountains to prevent the Persians from moving around

5. Battle of Marathon Athens single-handedly defeats a Persian army 3 times its size! Legend: Following the battle, an Athenian soldier named Pheidippides ran 26.2 miles back to Athens to tell of the victory. He made it all the way back yelling “Nike! Nike!” (Victory! Victory!) He collapsed and died right afterwards.

6. Thermopolyae 7,000 Greeks prevent the Persians from advancing into Greece for 3 Days – Buy the rest of the Greeks time 300 Spartas led by King Leonidas stayed behind and died to the last man.

7. Battle of Salamis Bay Athens’ navy delivers a decisive blow to the Persian army by trapping it in Salamis Bay near Athens.

8. Effects 1.Greece remains free & independent! 2. Athens becomes most powerful city in Greece. Athens builds a navy. Uses that navy to control the Delian League, an alliance of Greek cities. 3. Athens enters its “Golden Age.” (Golden Age of Pericles).