Ancient Greece Greco-Persian Wars INTRO:

Essential Standards 6.C&G.1 Understand the development of government in various civilizations, societies and regions.

6.C&G.1.1 Explain the origins and structures of various governmental systems (e.g., democracy, absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy). 6.C&G.1.2 Summarize the ideas that shaped political thought in various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., divine right, equality, liberty, citizen participation and integration of religious principles). Clarifying Objectives

How is a DEMOCRACY different from an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY or a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY? What was the POLITICAL IDEA/THOUGHT behind democracy? Essential Questions

 Persian Wars are a series of battles between the mighty Persian Empire & Ancient Greece  There are 3 very important battles that help decide the fate of Ancient Greece  Battle of Marathon  Battle of Thermopylae  Battle of Salamis Greco-Persian Wars

 Persian War happened for two main reasons…  Persian Empire Expansion  Revenge against the Greeks Greco-Persian Wars

 Persian Empire had expanded under the benevolent leader Cyrus the Great  Darius connected the Empire by building the Royal Road  But he soon was set on expanding the empire  Xerxes wanted to take over the world Persian Empire Expansion

 Ionia was a tiny Greek city state that was ruled by a mean tyrant named Miltiades  The people of Ionia hated him because he was so mean  One day Cyrus the Great of Persia (benevolent ruler) came and claimed Ionia as Persia Greek Ionia

o About 50 years before the Battle of Marathon the Greek city state of Ionia was conquered by Cyrus the Great o When his son Darius became the Persian ruler the Ionians led a revolt against the Persians Ionian Revolt

General Miltiades  The Ionian Revolt was led by Athenian General Miltiades  Since Ionia was so small Ionia called on the Athenians from Athens to assist them  The Ionians & Athenians defeated a small group of Persian forces and temporarily won their independence from Persia

Burn Athens Darius quickly suppresses the Ionian Revolt but is very mad This made Persian ruler Darius extremely mad at Athens and he vowed to burn Athens to the ground before he died In fact every night at dinner Emperor Darius had a soldier whisper in his ear “Remember Athens” as a reminder to himself”

Miltiades Escapes  Miltiades escapes back to Athens and tells the Athenians that the Persians are coming to burn Athens  Athenians make Miltiades a general  This sets up the beginning of the Great Persian War

 Persia was the largest empire in the world at the time and consisted of millions & millions of people  Ancient Greece with all of its city states is about 500, ,000 total people  It was truly a David vs. Goliath battle  It is a small town compared to the Mighty Parisian Civilization created by Cyrus the Great, Darius, & Xerxes Ancient Greece vs. Civilization of Persia

It is a small town compared to the Mighty Parisian Civilization created by Cyrus the Great, Darius, & Xerxes It would be like every state in the United States taking all of its citizens and making an army and attacking Rhode Island

Athens & Sparta  Athens & Sparta had been fighting for hundreds of years  When the Athenians told the Spartans of Ancient Persia’s plan to conquer all of Greece Spartans & Athenians UNITED as one  They now fought not for Athens or for Sparta but for GREECE

Athens must decide what to Do  Athens government leaders must get together and decide what to do  They need to decide whether they will…  Go and meet the Persians on the battlefield  Hide behind the walls of Athens and defend it from there

Athenian Democracy The city of Athens had the first Democracy People had the right to vote whether to meet the Persians head on or hide behind the city walls Their final vote led to the Battle of Marathon between Ancient Persia & Ancient Greece

Essential Questions  Get with a partner and answer….  How is a DEMOCRACY different from an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY or a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY?  What was the POLITICAL IDEA/THOUGHT behind democracy?

10 Years Later  Ten years after the Battle of Marathon another great battle between Ancient Greece & Ancient Persia took place  New Persian leader Xerxes took the mighty Persian Army to fight the Greeks  This battle was called the Battle of Thermopylae

1 Year Later A year later one more final major battle was fought between the Greeks & Persians This was a huge Naval battle

Important Wars  The Greco Persian War led to many important events…  Democracy  Phalanx  Ancient Greece UNIFICATION  Architecture

Important Points  6.C&G.1.1 (Democracy) Ancient Greece is the birthplace of democracy where the people/citizens vote on decisions  6.C&G.1.2 (Political Thought) Ancient Greeks shaped their government on the ideas of FREEDOM & EQUALITY