Persia Attacks the Greeks The Persian Empire Persians

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Persia Attacks the Greeks

Persia Attacks the Greeks

The Persian Empire • Persians were warriors and nomads who lived in Persia –

The Persian Empire • Persians were warriors and nomads who lived in Persia – southwestern area of modern day Iran.

The Persian Empire • Cyrus the Great united the Persians.

The Persian Empire • Cyrus the Great united the Persians.

The Persian Empire • The Persians built a large empire, conquering Mesopotamia, Asia Minor,

The Persian Empire • The Persians built a large empire, conquering Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, and Phoenician cities.

The Persian Empire • Darius came to power in 521 B. C. – reorganized

The Persian Empire • Darius came to power in 521 B. C. – reorganized the government

The Persian Empire • The empire under Darius was divided into satrapies – each

The Persian Empire • The empire under Darius was divided into satrapies – each with a ruler known as a satrap. • They answered to the king.

The Persian Military • The Persian military consisted of full-time, paid soldiers known as

The Persian Military • The Persian military consisted of full-time, paid soldiers known as Immortals.

The Persian Religion • Zoroastrianism, the religion of Persia, was founded by Zoroaster –

The Persian Religion • Zoroastrianism, the religion of Persia, was founded by Zoroaster – believed in one god, the freedom of humans, and the triumph of good.

The Persian Wars • After a failed rebellion by the Greeks, King Darius decided

The Persian Wars • After a failed rebellion by the Greeks, King Darius decided to stop the Greeks from interfering in his empire.

The Battle of Marathon http: //www. history. com/videos/the-battle-of-marathon#the-battle-of-marathon • occurred in 490 B. C.

The Battle of Marathon http: //www. history. com/videos/the-battle-of-marathon#the-battle-of-marathon • occurred in 490 B. C. – A short distance from Athens • The Persians waited there for the Athenians, but they never showed up • They retreated back to their boats – When the horsemen were on the boats, the Athenians charged the remaining Persian foot soldiers

Another Persian Strike • After Darius’s death, his son Xerxes became king. • vowed

Another Persian Strike • After Darius’s death, his son Xerxes became king. • vowed a new invasion of Greece

Another Persian Strike • The Greeks fought the Persians at Thermopylae for two days.

Another Persian Strike • The Greeks fought the Persians at Thermopylae for two days. • The Greeks lost the battle, but built 200 efficient ships

Another Persian Strike • At the Battle of Salamis, the Greeks used their faster,

Another Persian Strike • At the Battle of Salamis, the Greeks used their faster, smaller ships to defeat the Persian fleet. – But the Persians still entered Athens and burned the city.

Another Persian Strike • The Greek army won at Plataea. This was the turning

Another Persian Strike • The Greek army won at Plataea. This was the turning point of the wars with Persia

What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall? • The Persian Empire fell for several

What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall? • The Persian Empire fell for several reasons. – The Persians were weakened by war • Their rulers taxed the people and spent the money on themselves