Greco-Persian Wars (We’re not watching 300)

Greco-Persian Wars All accounts of war are Greek, no Persian records found Main source- Herodotus 484-425BC Persian Wars- 499-449 BC “Father of History” "For the first time, a chronicler set himself to trace the origins of a conflict not to a past so remote so as to be utterly fabulous, nor to the whims and wishes of some god, nor to a people's claim to manifest destiny, but rather explanations he could verify personally." Historians might have criticized his methods, but they felt his work was still accurate.

Greco-Persian Wars 6th Century BC, Persian (Iran) arises as the most powerful nation in the region In comparison the Persian nation dwarfed all of Greece (Cuba vs USA) constant conflict between Greek city-states further weakened their chances vs Persia superior weaponry, training, & leadership helped to lesson the gap before attacking mainland Greece, Persia attacked Ionia in Asia Minor

Greco-Persian Wars 559 BCE Persia was under the rule of Cyrus the Great unable to cooperate the Greeks/Ionia fall to the Persians the Ionian states are forced to join the Persian empire/military 499 BCE an attempted revolt in Ionia was crushed by the Persians The Battle of Marathon 490 BCE- King Darius sends military to punish Athens for Ionian revolt Persians select the plain of Marathon as their base of operation

Greco-Persian Wars a runner is sent to Sparta as Athens ask support, Sparta says not for another week 9000 Citizen soldiers of Athens go to meet the Persians the Athenians elected to attack the Persians instead of waiting charging across the battlefield the Athenians put the Persians on the run Greek Historians claim 192 Greek deaths vs 6400 Persian dead a runner is sent from Marathon to Athens to proclaim the victory despite the defeat the Persians are far from destroyed

Greco-Persian Wars Thermopylae 10 years of inactivity by the Persian followed Marathon Persia was now under the rule of Xeres (480 BCE) the Persians cross the Hellespont by stringing together boats into a bridge Greek Historians say the Persian forces numbered close to 2.5 million, but it was more likely that they were around 200 000 the Greeks had little time to prepare for the attack & many intended to accept Persian control

Greco-Persian Wars Thermopylae it was decided that the Spartans would defend the Hot Gates/ Thermopylae a force of 4000 soldiers lead by King Leonidas & his 300 “bodyguards” would be charged with holding the gate until the entire Greek army arrived A Greek Sheppard showed the Persians a pathway that allowed the them to encircle the Greeks Leonidas & roughly 1000 soldiers stayed behind & were killed The Persian Army attacked & burned Athens- most citizen had already been evacuated.

Greco-Persian Wars Salamis (Naval Battle) 300 Greek Triremes were positioned at Salamis after a delay the much larger Persian fleet was drawn into battle Xeres watched from a spot on top of a hill as his fleet was destroyed the superior speed and manoeuvrability of the Greek ships allowed then to gain the upper hand in the narrow pass this defeat was devastating for the Persians Xerxes returned to Persia leaving his forces under the general Maridonius

Greco-Persian Wars Plataea Mardonius moved his forces to a plain near the town of Plataea finally all of the Greeks formed a united front & met the Persians head on the Greeks were victorious, killing Mardonius & taking hold of a large amount of the Persians wealth the Persians hastily retreated from Greece The Greek Navy attacked the Persians and freed the Ionian Greeks in Asia Minor

Greco-Persian Wars Xerxes (The Great) Son of Darius I, succeed his father in 486 BC- 36 years old Took over control of Empire in midst of preparation for another Greek invasion. Ruled over more of mainland Greece than any previous Persian ruler until his defeats at Salamis & Plataea 465 BCE Xerxes is assassinated by the head of his bodyguard Rumours that his eldest son was involved in the murder.

3000-2100 Minoans on Crete 1628 Thera Eruption (Minoans decline begins) 1200 Trojan War & downfall of Mycenaeans 499-494 Ionian revolt against the Persians 490 Battle of Marathon 480 Thermopylae & Salamis 479 Battle of Plataea (Persians defeated) 431-404 The Peloponnesian Wars 338 Philip of Macedon conquers Greek City-states & then is assassinated 331 Battle of Gaugamela 323 Alexander dies, empire breaks apart 148 Macedonia becomes province of Rome 2011 AD- Boston Bruins win Stanley Cup