The Persian Wars What were the causes and

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The Persian Wars What were the causes and effects of the Persian Wars? What

The Persian Wars What were the causes and effects of the Persian Wars? What were the key battles/turning points of the wars?

Introduction to the Persian Wars (492 -449 BCE) The Persian Wars fought between 492

Introduction to the Persian Wars (492 -449 BCE) The Persian Wars fought between 492 -449 BCE) Around 500 BCE, the Persians under the leadership of Darius I were at their greatest height as an empire Darius I wanted to expand the empires western borders and acquire lands along the Mediterranean

Causes of the Persian Wars (492 -449 BCE) Many Greek city-states along Asia Minor

Causes of the Persian Wars (492 -449 BCE) Many Greek city-states along Asia Minor had rebelled against Persian advancements but lost Athens had aided these city-states which upset the Persians Darius next launched an attack on the Greek mainland

Unification of the Greek city-states The Greek city-states rejected Persian rule but realized they

Unification of the Greek city-states The Greek city-states rejected Persian rule but realized they lacked the resources to defeat the Persians on their own Led by the city-states of Sparta and Athens the Greeks united Sparta was in control of the army Athens was in control of the navy

Key battles: Marathon (490 BCE) The first major battle of the Persian Wars was

Key battles: Marathon (490 BCE) The first major battle of the Persian Wars was “The Battle of Marathon” Athens with the help of the Plataeans defeated the Persians (11, 000 Greeks defeated 25, 000 Persians) After winning the battle the Athenians sent a messenger back to the city of Athens to tell of their triumph—the messenger ran 26 miles After losing the battle it would be 10 more years until the Persians attacked Greece—this time under the leadership of Xerxes

Key battles: Thermopylae (480 BCE) Xerxes returned to Greece with roughly 2 million soldiers

Key battles: Thermopylae (480 BCE) Xerxes returned to Greece with roughly 2 million soldiers at a narrow pass of sea known as “Thermopylae” There waiting for his army were only around 5, 000 soldiers—mostly Spartan Under the leadership of the Spartan King Leonidas they held off the advancing Persian forces for 3 days taking many Persian life's in the process However, the Greeks were eventually defeated as the Persians were told of a secret pass between the cliffs

After Thermopylae The Persians marched south and burned/destroyed the city of Athens, including the

After Thermopylae The Persians marched south and burned/destroyed the city of Athens, including the beloved Parthenon Prior the destruction of their city most Athenians were able to evacuate The evacuation process itself was not just meant to save life's but to also lure the Persians into a trap

Key battles: Salamis (480 BCE) During the evacuation of Athens the Greeks decided to

Key battles: Salamis (480 BCE) During the evacuation of Athens the Greeks decided to station their fleet in the Strait of Salamis Under the leadership of Themistocles the Athenians feigned retreat and lured the Persian navy into the narrow strait In the strait the Persians were outmaneuvered and lost thousands of men and ships

Key battles: Salamis (480 BCE) The Battle of Salamis was the turning point of

Key battles: Salamis (480 BCE) The Battle of Salamis was the turning point of the war It gave the Greeks control of the Mediterranean and devastated the Persian navy Without control of the Mediterranean the Persians would struggle to send resources and reinforcements to their armies

Key Battles: Plataea (479 BCE) After the Persian loss at Salamis Xerxes returned to

Key Battles: Plataea (479 BCE) After the Persian loss at Salamis Xerxes returned to Persia The remaining Persian forces in Greece were expelled after “The Battle of Plataea”

Effects of the war Athens and the Greeks were able to keep their independence

Effects of the war Athens and the Greeks were able to keep their independence Athens was credited with winning the war and they were able to continue their political and cultural innovations

Effects of the War The Persian wars showed that the Greek citystates could unite

Effects of the War The Persian wars showed that the Greek citystates could unite The Delian league was formed as a result of the Persian Wars The Delian league united the Greek city-states and helped with trade and preventing future attacks The league lasted for nearly twenty years until old rivalries returned and Athens became overpowering