Persia Attacks the Greeks Chapter 4 Section 3

Persia Attacks the Greeks Chapter 4 - Section 3

The Persian Empire

Persia was located in today’s Iran.

Ancient Persians were warriors and cattle herding nomads.

Cyrus the Great united a once weak kingdom into a very powerful kingdom.

The Persian Empire became the largest in the world.

Cyrus took over Babylon, northern Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, and Phoenician cities.

How did Cyrus’ merciful type of rule benefit his empire?

Rulers after Cyrus continued to add on to the empire - Egypt, west India, Thrace, and northeast Greece. The Persian Empire equalled the size of the US today.

The Royal Road was built to connect all the areas they had conquered together stretched from Asia Minor to the capital of Susa.

Roadside stations were set up on the Royal Road to provide travelers with food, shelter, and fresh horses to the kings messengers.

When Darius came into power, he reorganized the government to make it more efficient.

The Persian Empire was divided into 20 satrapies (provinces) which were ruled by satraps (officials that ruled).

Satraps collected taxes, served as judge, was the chief of police, and the Persian armies head recruiter.

Th success of the kings power was dependent on the Persian armies troops.

Persia’s army was paid by the government to be full time soldiers.

Who were the Immortals?

The Persian’s practiced Zoroastrianism. What is Zoroastrianism?

Zoroastrianism • • • believed in one God supreme being was the creator choice between right and wrong recognized evil goodness would triumph still exist today - few followers

The Persian Wars

The Greeks and Persians often clashed - the Athenian army helped other Greek city-states, being controlled by the Persians, unsuccessfully rebel against Darius’ Persian rule.

Darius chose to deal with mainland Greece, so there would be no interference in the Greek colonies he had gained control over.

The Battle of Marathon • 490 BC - 20, 000 Persian soldiers landed at Marathon (map of battles p. 134) • the Athenians did not attack the Persian army - why? • Persia decided to not continue to wait - trying to bait the Athenians to attack • Persia loaded all the troops up onto their ship to attack Athens instead - what was Persia’s big mistake?

The Battle of Marathon • while the Persians loaded their ship the Greeks attacked - they knew that the skilled calvary was not an issue • the Greeks easily defeated to Persian army - the Persian soldiers were attacked in the water waiting to board • legend says - Pheidippides ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens announcing “VICTORY!”, then died — marathons that are ran today are named after this journey

After Darius’ death, his son Xerxes became the next Persian king. He vowed to get revenge on the Greeks by attacking them again.

Under Xerxes rule, the Persian army was made up of 180, 000 troops and thousands of ships ready to battle.

The Battle of Thermopylae • the Greeks joined forces to defend themselves against the Persians • King Leonidas, Sparta’s king - provided the largest group of soldiers • Athen’s provided a navy and a general, Themistocles • Themistocles found that the Persians were sending shipments of food by boat - he planned to cut off the Persian food supply • the Greeks decided to stall the Persians at Thermopylae - a narrow pass through the mountains

The Battle of Thermopylae • the 7, 000 Greek soldiers held off the Persians in the pass • a Greek traitor alerted the Persians of the Greeks plan and the Persian’s developed a attack • King Leonidas sent his troops to safety - he and a small army stayed and fought to their death • the Greeks lost the battle • the Athenians were able to assembly a small navy due to the bravery of the Greeks

The Battle of Salamis • the Greek navy fleet attacked the Persians in the Strait of Salamis • what is a strait? how was this beneficial to the Greeks? • Greek ship vs Persian ship ? • the Greeks destroyed the Persian fleet • the Persian marched to Athens to find no Greeks • the Persians torched Athens - this angered the Greeks

The Battle of Plataea • 479 BC - the Greeks formed the largest army they had ever assembled • soldiers - solid body armor, long spears • soldiers were trained • Greeks defeated the Persians • this battle was instrumental in the Persian returning to Asia Minor • the Greeks had saved their homeland

The Persian army was left weak and gradually declined after being defeated by the Greeks.

After the Darius and Xerxes, there kings began to mismanage the wealth of the kingdom by spending on the royal court. The kings also increase taxes for the citizens.

The high taxes angered citizens and caused a rebellion.

Many kings were assassinated by their families during this period due to friction in the royal family.

Persian kings had many wives and children. Male children would kill their fathers to take over the throne - 6 of 9 kings after Darius were assassinated.

By 330 BC, Alexander the Great had taken over the Persian lands - the Persian empire had fallen.