Greece and Persia Chapter 9.3

Persia’s Empire Persians were building an empire when the government of Athens was undergoing political changes Persian homeland was located in southwestern Iran

Cyrus the Great Cyrus the Great built a strong Persian army Began creating an empire that became the largest in the ancient world

Creating an Empire Persia conquered Mesopotamia, Syria, Judah, and the Greek city-states of Anatolia Cyrus treated conquered people fairly Allowed them to keep their own languages, religions, and laws Allowed the Jews to return to Israel

Armies took over Egypt, western India, and lands northeast of Greece From the west to the east stretched 3,000 miles (this is about the size of the continental United States today)

Persian Roads Persians improved the roads begun by the Assyrians Royal Road was 1,500 miles from Persia to Anatolia Messengers could travel from Persia to Anatolia in just seven days The same trip would have taken 3 months before the road was built

Persian Government Darius I ruled Persia from 522 to 486 BC Divided the empire into provinces called satrapies Each satrapies ruled by a governor called a satrap (means “defender of the kingdom”) Satrap collected taxes, judged legal cases, managed the police, and recruited soldiers for the Persian army

Persian Army Persian maintained a full-time, paid, professional army Best fighters were 10,000 soldiers called the “Immortals” because when one died another soldier immediately took his place

Who was Zoroaster? Persians were polytheistic A teacher named Zoroaster Preached a monotheistic religion Religion was called Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism Taught one supreme god God was called Ahura Mazda or “Wise Lord” Ahura Mazda was creator of all things Leader of the forces of good Believes people were free to choose between good and evil Religion still has about 200,000 followers today. Most in South Asia.

The Persian Wars Persians clashed with the Greeks Greeks in Anatolia revolted against Persia Athenians sent warships to help rebels Persians crushed the uprising King Darius decided to punish the Greeks

How Did the Greeks Win at Marathon? Darius sent a fleet of 600 ships and army to invade Greece Persians landed at Marathon Persians waited for the Greeks to fight Athenians had only 10,000 troops compared to the Persian’s 20,000 soldiers

Persians sailed to Athens to attack by sea Persians loaded their ships with cavalry As soon as the Persians had their horsemen on their ships, Athenians charged down the hills Athenians caught the Persians foot soldiers standing in the water Persians suffered a terrible defeat

Marathon A messenger ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens with news of the victory When he reached Athens he cried “Victory” Then collapsed and died from exhaustion Today’s marathon races are named for him and are just over 26 miles

Land and Sea Battles Persians vowed revenge Xerxes invaded Greece with 200,000 troops and thousands of warships The Greek city-states banded together to fight the Persians

Battle of Thermopylae King Leonidas of Sparta supplied soldiers Themistocles of Athens directed Greek naval forces Themistocles wanted to attack the Persian’s ships and cut off the army’s supplies To do this, King Leonidas of Sparta had to stop the Persian army from reaching Athen

Battle of Thermopylae King Leonidas led 7,000 soldiers into a battle that lasted for three days A traitor showed the Persians a trail leading behind the Greeks Realizing he would soon be surrounded, Leonidas dismissed most of the troops Leonidas and 300 Spartans remained a fought to the death

The Spartan’s heroic stand gave Themistocles time to attack Persia’s ships Athenian fleet lured the Persian fleet into the strait of Salamis near Athens Athenian ships were smaller and faster Most of the Persian fleet was destroyed Persian foot soldiers set Athens on fire

Battle at Plataea Combined forces of the Greek city-states formed their largest army yet Improved fighting with better armor and weapons Greek army faced Persians at Plataea Two sides evenly matched with 100,000 men Greeks defeated the Persians Freed Anatolia from Persian rule Peace did no come until 449 BC

Decline of Persia Persian army was no longer strong enough to defend the empire Persian people were unhappy with government Kings taxed the people heavily Persian empire fell when attacked by Alexander the Great and a new Greek empire began