The Persian Wars Persia vs. Greece

How Did the War Start? Greeks start colonizing lands in Anatolia Later Darius will conquer lands and add them to the Persian Empire Greeks revolt and Athens sends ships to help Vows to destroy the Greek nations 490 BCE Darius sends 25000 soldiers to Greece Lands at the city of Marathon – 26.2 mi from Athens Only 10000 Athenian soldiers fought – win battle Used the phalanx as fighting practice 6400 Persians lost, only 192 Athenians Pheidippides runs back to warn city of attack Persians boarded ships to attack the unguarded city of Athens Pheidippides dies after warning – soldiers make it and defeat the Persian armies

The Phalanx Fighting style of Greeks A line or box of soldiers w/ spear and shield Incredibly dangerous and effective style

Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis 10 years later Persians attack Greece again Led by Darius’ son – Xerxes and a massive army Greece deeply divided at this point - easy attack for Xerxes Battle of Thermopylae Persians vs. 7000 Greeks (300 Spartans) Greeks not willing to work together – Athens’ problem Traitor shows Persians a secret path to other cities Spartans stay to slow them, others retreat to protect cities All 300 Spartans die – Thermopylae a loss for Greeks Battle of Salamis Persians make it to Athens – they decide to retreat Want to make it a naval battle – not a land battle Athenians defeat Persians with faster ships and sink the entire Persian fleet. Xerxes and Persian given a devastating loss – but Athens had been destroyed as they planned to do

Consequences of the Persian Wars Two wars in 15 years have huge impacts on Greece Persians are no longer a threat to Greeks Greek city-states have a new sense of confidence and freedom Especially Athenians for the naval defeat Alliances were created following the wars to provide guaranteed protection Didn’t want to fight alone in next war Alliances forced people to go to war if an ally did Athens creates Delian League first, then Sparta creates the Peloponnesian League to compete Eventually a huge burst of creativity and progress in Athens thanks to new freedom and money