Key Terms Persian Wars Herodotus Darius I The

Key Terms • • • Persian Wars Herodotus Darius I The Royal Highway Miltiades Pheidippides Hoplon, hoplites Phalanx • • Niki Marathon Themistocles Xerxes Pass of Thermopylae Leonidas Salamis Triremes

The Mighty Persian Empire

The Persian Wars • For the first time, Greek city-states joined forces to defend against the invading Persians – Persia was an ancient Asian civilization founded by nomads in present-day Iran • How do we know so much about the Persian Wars? – Herodotus – “Father of History”

Cyrus the Great §He established the Persian empire § Spanned 3 continents § Well-organized government § Large army 580 – 529 B. C. E. §A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E. ) § Persian king § Built the great Royal Road system. § Led the invasion of Greece at Marathon

Persian “Royal Road”

Darius the Great § Built Persepolis. § He extended the Persian Empire §Built a canal in Egypt §Established a complex postal system. § Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears. ”

Ancient Persepolis

Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

The Ionian Revolt • Darius imposed a tax (tribute) and military service on those he conquered • Aristagoras, ruler of Miletus, led a revolt against the Persians. Why? – They didn’t want to pay the tax – They didn’t want to serve in the Persian army

Why did the Persians invade Greece? In 519 B. C. the Persians conquered a group of people who lived in Asia Minor called the Ionian Greeks. In 499 B. C. the Ionian Greeks asked the mainland Greeks to help them rebel against the Persians. AGH! Those Greeks will pay for this We’re on the way Help! Athens and Eretria sent warships to help them. They plundered Sardis. This made the Persian King, Darius, very angry with Greece. He burned Miletus five years later.

Darius Seeks Vengeance • Darius sends envoys to Greece – What happened to them? • Darius sails again – He wanted to destroy Eretria & Athens

The Greeks Prepare • Miltiades – Greek general – Knows they need the help of the Spartans • Pheidippides – Messenger sent to Sparta • Spartans – They won’t help; they are in the middle of a festival for Apollo • Plataea – They send 600 men to help

The Greek Advantages • Foot soldiers well armed – Six-foot spear, sword – Bronze armor, Hoplon (shield) • Battle formation – Phalanx – one row of men directly behind another – Moved as a single unit – Well-trained • Other Greek advantage?

Persian Advantages • Their large numbers • They are amazing archers

The Battle Begins • Miltiades has 11, 000 men • Persians have over 20, 000 • Strategy of Miltiades – Block the exits – Charge at the Persians • Made it harder for the Persian archers

The Battle Begins, continued • Greeks able to defeat the Persian wings • Come around and surround the Persians

Persians retreated – Some drowned in the salt marsh – Others made it back to their ships

Battle at Marathon The Greeks only lost 203 men, compared to the Persians’ 6, 400. The Greek dead were buried in a common grave, seen here.

Marathon • The Greeks sent their fastest runner Pheidippides to carry home news of the victory. • Same guy who ran to Sparta • He sprinted 26. 2 miles from the battle site to the city-state of Athens. • He arrived and said, “Niki!” then died from exhaustion • The modern marathon race is named after this event.

The Battle Begins, continued • After the victory at Marathon, the Greek army went to defend Athens – Persians retreated to Asia • Greek hoplites proved they could win against a strong opponent • Knew Persians would be back – 31 city-states formed an alliance called the Panhellenic League – Built a large navy at the direction of Themistocles

Preparing for Round II • The Greek ruler Themistocles knew this was a temporary victory. • He encouraged the Athenians to build up their fleet and prepare for battle with the Persians. • Sparta took charge of the army. • Athens took charge of the navy

The Persians Return • Xerxes – Darius’ son – Vowed to avenge his father’s loss at Marathon • Invades Europe in 480 B. C. E. – Largest army ever assembled (180, 000) – Army made up of people from all over the empire • Babylonians, Armenians, Lydians, Syrians, Egyptians, Libyans, and Cypriots

The Persians Return, continued • Crossing the Hellespont – Double pontoon bridge – How was this made? – Took the army of Xerxes 7 days and 7 nights to cross – Supplied by ships following along the coast

The Persians Return, continued • Back to the Greeks – Went to the Oracle of Delphi – Pythia predicted disaster! • Claimed the only hope lay in “the wooden walls. ” – Wooden fence around the Acropolis? – Sides of the ships?

The Battle of Thermopylae • Athens=navy – Commanded by Themistocles • Sparta=army – Commanded by Leonidas • Greeks aim to stop the Persians at the Pass of Thermopylae – Narrow pass, where the hoplites could hold the Persians back

King Leonidas “So much the better. We can fight in the shade!” • Led an army of 8, 000 soldiers • Greek navy tried to keep Persian fleet from being able to resupply the army • Persians attacked on Day 5 • Leonidas and his men able to hold their position for two days

Xerxes Gets Help • Ephialtes – Greek traitor – Led Persians on a path to the rear of the Greeks • Persians easily defeat Leonidas’ rear guard • Leonidas sends all but his own 300 men away…”we shall dine in the kingdom of Hades!”

• A Small Spartan force of about 300 men commanded by King Leonidas, guarded the mountain pass of Thermopylae. • They held out heroically against the enormous Persian force for three days. • They were defeated, but won valuable time for the rest of the Greeks. • Their courage inspired the rest of the Greek army.

The Destruction of Athens • Persians move on to Athens, but it’s deserted – They killed anyone who was still there – Burned the temples and Athena’s olive tree • Why is the olive tree a symbol of resilience? • Athenians had fled to Salamis and Troezen – They could only watch as they saw their city burn

The Battle of Salamis • Greeks fled here, knew Persians were coming • Themistocles had a plan – Sent a “traitor” to Xerxes – “Traitor” told Xerxes the Greeks were afraid, ready to retreat – Xerxes ordered the attack – Expected an easy win

Triremes • Greek ships – Three banks for 14 ft. oars – 170 rowers per ship – Kept in time by listening to flute – Metal battering-ram used to destroy enemy boats • Greeks rowed fast hit other ships with batteringram; but not too fast, not too slow • This creating a large hole in the enemy ship, causing it to sink • Soldiers from the sinking ships then attacked

Battle of Salamis, continued • Greeks were outnumbered, but knew the waterway well • Greek ships backed up as Persians approached • Persians trapped in the narrow strait, Greeks attacked and won

The End of the War • Persians retreated • Persian messengers spread the news – “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stayed these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. ” • Xerxes left part of his army behind to attack again – Left his brother-in-law, Mardonius, in charge – Fight at Plataea • Pausanias (Spartan king) led the outnumbered Greeks to victory • Mardonius was killed • Greek navy defeated Persians at Mycale

Persian Wars: Famous v Marathon (490 BCE) Battles § 26 miles from Athens v Thermopylae (480 BCE) § 300 Spartans at the Mountain pass v Salamis (480 BCE) §Athenian navy victorious