The Persian Wars The Persian Empire wanted to

The Persian Wars

The Persian Empire wanted to gain more territory and it tried several times to invade and conquer the Greek city-states. The Persians were successful at invading, but they never conquered Greece.

Background Info: • Persians conquered Ionia (the Greek city-states on Asia Minor) and ruled there for 20 years. • The Ionians revolted against Persia and asked mainland Greece for help. - Athens and another city state sent a few warships. • Fighting continued for 5 years, BUT the Persians once again defeated the Ionians.

Even though the Ionians were defeated, the Persian king, Darius wanted to punish mainland Greece for helping the Ionians. Darius wanted … REVENGE!

The Battle of Marathon • Darius sent 600 ships and a well equipped army to Marathon on mainland Greece. • After a few days, the Persians decided to set sail for Athens. -They were loading up their ships when Greek soldiers ran down from the hills to attack. The Persians were unprepared for this surprise attack, and were defeated.

• Excited by the victory, a runner left Marathon and headed for Athens, (26 miles away) As he raced into Athens, he yelled out “Nike!” and then died of exhaustion. • Nike is the Greek goddess of victory.

Time to think…… • This is the Winged Victory statue (Nike). It is in the Louvre Museum in Paris. • Why do you think that the Nike company chose to use the name of the Greek goddess of victory for their company name?

• The victory at Marathon brought the Athenians great prestige (= respect, honor) among the Greek city-states. • After the Battle of Marathon, the Athenians discovered silver mines. -They used their new wealth to build triremes = fast moving warships with 3 levels of rowers. • Athens developed the largest navy in Greece. If the Persians ever attacked again, Greece would be ready!

Notice the 3 rows of oars in this trireme.

The Persians struck again! • 250, 000 Persian soldiers sailed across the Aegean Sea and conquered northern Greece. • The Greek city-states banded together. – Spartans led the army (on land) and Athenians led the navy (at sea)

Thermopylae 480 B. C

Helped by a Greek traitor, the Persians defeated the Greeks and marched on to take the city-state of Athens. • When the Persians arrived in Athens, they found the city deserted and set it on fire. • The Greeks tricked the Persians into sailing into a narrow strait = narrow body of water.

The Persian ships were too big and clumsy to turn around and flee from the lighter, faster, Greek fleet. The Persians were defeated.

The Delian League The Persians were finally driven out of Greece, BUT they still ruled Ionia. • As a result, the Greek city-states formed a defensive league = protective group – Sparta did not join. – Athens became the leader of the league. **Athens collected money from the member citystates to pay for ships and naval crew.

Under the Delian League, Athens became more and more powerful. 1. Other city-states had to ask for permission to sail or to trade. 2. Criminal cases were brought to Athens for trial. 3. All of the city states had to use Athenian coins as their money. 4. Athenian soldiers interfered in the politics of the other city-states.

Pericles • He wanted to make Athens the most beautiful city of the time. • He rebuilt the palaces and temples that had been destroyed in the Persian Wars. • Athens became beautiful and well known for its art, literature, and ideas. ***He used the money Athens collected for the Delian League to improve his city-state!

Time for a Check-Up: Check-Up 1. Why did the Persians go to war against the Greeks? 2. Why were the Greek city-states able to defeat the Persians? 3. Explain how you think the other city-states felt about the Pericles and the Delian League.