Greece and Persia Collide

Persia Largest empire to date, stretching from modern day India to Egypt and Turkey Largest armies seen to date, with hundreds of thousands serving when mobilized Technologically advanced Tolerant of other cultures and religions Absolute Monarchy

Persian Empire 500 BC

Greece Despite common language, divided into city-states (poleis) Advanced tactics with hoplite infantry Great contributions to art and science Political structure varied from partial democracies to absolute monarchies

Greece in the Persian Wars

What Started it All Persia conquered Ionia where Greeks lived (west coast modern Turkey) In 499 BC when Persian King Darius raised taxes, the Ionian Greeks got mad and revolted Athens backed Greek city of Miletus Persians crushed the revolts but also wanted to punish Athens for interfering

Battle of Marathon 490 BC After burning Eritrea to the north, the Persians land at Marathon, NE of Athens Athenians and Plateans are outnumbered 25,000 to 10,000 Greeks chose to attack to pick the ground they would fight on

Thermopylae 480 BC Xerxes, wants revenge for his father’s defeat at Marathon and invades Greece 300 Spartans and thousands of allies held Persian army of 150,000 at pass for a week The last stand saw the Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 300 Thebans face the Persians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNa3Co83_gk&index=55&list=PL78oGeN4hXC1kzpP5mE8Vb8Wx4iZFunIT

Salamis 480 BC Oracle told Athenians to put their faith in the wooden wall, in other words, their fleet [half Greek fleet is Athenian] Greeks feign retreat near Salamis and when Persians pursue the Greeks turn and defeat them in the narrow channel Despite being outnumbered by 800 to 400 triremes, the Greeks win

Platea 479 BC With fleet defeated at Salamis, Persians could not supply army Xerxes left Greece and his general Mardonius commanded the remnants of the Persian army Combined Greek force of 40,000 defeats 80,000 Persians at Platea, ending Persian threat

Myths You Will Hear Greeks (West) fought for freedom against oppression of Persians (East) Persians outnumbered Greeks 10 to 1 in many battles but were defeated due to being essentially slaves

Outcomes of the Wars Greek victory creates a sense of unity Persian threat removed permanently – next serious threat comes from Rome 300 years later Athens had control of what was left of Aegean Greece through leadership of the Delian League Peloponnesian League formed by Sparta to counter power of Athens