The Persian Wars Mrs. Hadgraft

Growing Armies Iron replaces bronze 1200 BCE Iron was harder than bronze, more common, and much cheaper Common people could afford weapons Armies were now comprised of rich and poor alike Hoplites: Greek foot soldiers; fought in a formation called a phalanx Hoplites fought side-by-side, holding spears and shields Became the most powerful fighting force in the ancient world

The Phalanx

Persian War Persia: Dominated the Middle East From Anatolia to the Indus River The Ionian city states rebelled; the Athenians supported them (500 BCE) Ionia had been a Greek city-state until they were conquered the Persians in 546 BCE Darius sent troops to teach Athens a lesson

The Persian War: Battle of Marathon 490 BCE 25,000 Persians landed in Athens at Marathon 10,000 Athenian men arranged in the phalanx, were waiting The Persians fled after a few hours The Athenian’s iron armor was stronger than the Persian armor The Athenians were more organized and better trained

The Marathon The city of Athens was left without defense Pheidippides raced back to Athens to report the Persian defeat So that those in the city would not give up to Persian forces He ran 24 miles from Marathon to Athens “Rejoice, we conquer.” Were his words, before he died When the Persians arrived, the city was heavily defended; they retreated back to sea

The Second Phase 10 years later, 480 BCE Xerxes: Darius’ son Assembled an invasion to destroy Athens The Greeks city-states were divided Some wanted to fight the Persians, others wanted to let Athens fall, other fought on the side of the Persians

Battle of Thermopylae 480 BCE A narrow mountain pass 7,000 Greeks, including 300 Spartans blocked the way The Greeks stopped the Persians for three days Xerxes was informed of a way around by a traitor The Spartans sacrificed their lives, all of them were killed, to allow for the Athenians to retreat

Battle of Salamis 480 BCE Athenian general Themistocles evacuated the city Brought the fight to the sea Positioned fleet in channel near the island of Salamis Xerxes burned Athens Xerxes blocked both sides of the channel Persian ships were too big to turn around in the channel Smaller Greek ships defeated the Persians Armed with battering rams rammed the Persian ships 1/3 of the fleet sank

Battle of Plataea 479 BCE Persian army faced another defeat This was a major turning point The Persians would remain on the defensive for the remainder of the war

The Delian League 478 BCE Several Greek city-states formed an alliance Name derives from Delos: an island in the Aegean sea where the headquarters were located The league ended the Persian Wars and defeated Xerxes

Effects of the Persian War Persian threat ended Athens became the leader of the Delian League Athens used this power to control other city-states This lead Athens into a Golden Age The war united Athens and Sparta

http://europeanhistory.boisestate.edu/westciv/persian /