WELCOME BACK!!!! Writing Prompt: G16: Write down and analyze the following quote: “Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” Will Durant Homework: G17: Summarize the days notes AND write 3 Level 2 questions about the day’s lecture.

G19:The Persian Empire

The First Major Leader of Persia Cyrus the Great ruled from 580 – 529 B. C. E. Cyrus set up a policy of tolerance (acceptance) he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.

A tolerant ruler He freed the Jews from the Babylonians and allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine (Caanan/Israel) The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.”

Cyrus the Great Dies After some fighting amongst generals, Darius the Great took over. He ruled from 522 BCE to 486 BCE.

Darius the Great He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.) He built the capital city of Persepolis He built a canal from the Nile River to the Red Sea

Ancient Persepolis

Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Darius the Great Established a tax-collecting system. Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES (provinces) Built the great Royal Road system. Established a complex postal system. Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

Xerxes When Darius died, his son took over. Xerxes does not have a policy of tolerance for the cultures of conquered peoples.

G19: Persian War

Why did the Persians invade Greece? In 519 B.C.E. the Persians conquered a group of people who lived in Asia Minor called the Ionian Greeks. In 499 B.C.E. the Ionian Greeks asked the mainland Greeks to help them rebel against the Persians. .

Athens Gets Involved: Athens sent warships to help them, but they were not strong enough to defeat the Persian navy. The interference of the Athenians made the Persian King, Darius, very angry with Greece So In 490 B.C.E. Darius sent 600 ships and thousands of soldiers to invade Greece. He wanted to punish the Athenians for helping the rebels.

Persian Empire

The Fight The Persian army landed at Marathon, north of Athens, in 490 B.C.E. The Persians greatly outnumbered the Greeks. The Persians were amazed at the strong will of the small Athenian force. They had no horses or archers, only fierce foot soldiers. After a few days, the Persians decided to attack Athens by sea. While they were loading their ships, the Athenians attacked and defeated them. The Persians Retreated.

Return of the Persians In 480 B.C. E. Xerxes sent a larger force to conquer Greece. He sent 200,000 soldiers and nearly 1,000 ships. By this time Athens had convinced Sparta to join them in battle. Twenty Greek city-states joined together to meet the Persian invaders.

Thermopylae: The Last Stand A Small Spartan force of about 300 men commanded by King Leonidas, guarded the mountain pass of Thermopylae. They held out for three days. They were betrayed when someone told the Persians how to get in behind the army. They were defeated, but won valuable time for the rest of the Greeks.

Battle at Salamis The Persians marched south after their victory at Thermopylae and destroyed the city of Athens. The Athenians had already moved to Salamis, a small nearby island. More than 800 Persian ships attacked the Athenian navy near the island. The large Persian ships could not maneuver in the water. The smaller Greek ships destroyed them.

Three of Five On what three continents were the Persian Empire located? What were satrapies? Name two of the leaders of the Persian Empire. Who came to the aid of the Ionian Greeks? At the Battle of Salamis why did the Greeks win?