Ancient Greece Battle of Salamis 480 B.C.E.

Essential Standards 6.G.1 Understand geographic factors that influenced the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions (i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) over time. 6.C&G.1Understand the development of government in various civilizations, societies and regions.

Clarifying Objectives 6.G.1.1 Explain how the physical features and human characteristics of a place influenced the development of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., location near rivers and natural barriers, trading practices and spread of culture). 6.G.1.3 Compare distinguishing characteristics of various world regions (e.g., physical features, culture, political organization and ethnic make-up). 6.C&G.1.1 Explain the origins and structures of various governmental systems (e.g., democracy, absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy).

Essential Questions Which NATURAL BARRIER did Themistocles to defeat the Persians in the Battle of Salamis? Why would the Athenians choose to live in a region that had NATURAL BARRIERS? How does the region of Greece’s physical features help Ancient Greece in their famous battles? What is a DEMOCRACY?

Greek Trireme Ships Ancient Greece’s secret weapon Greek war ships that were made from Oak… Light Fast Easy to Steer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhTET-JmFdM 7:04-7:54

Admiral Themistocles Admiral Themistocles was a Greek sea captain He was the leader of the Greek Navy He was the last chance for Ancient Greece to fend off the Persians

Persians were Coming Persians had made it past Leonidas & his 300 men and were coming straight for Athens A decision had to be made to stay in Athens and fight or to run to escape the Persians

Oracle @ Delphi An Oracle was a person that the Greek God communicated to humans through Delphi was a mountain where the Oracle lived Oracles were usually young women that had been heavily drugged Oracles were often consulted before an important decision was made

Oracle @ Delphi Athenians always consulted the Oracle per cultural tradition before they went to battle to see if it is a good idea or not When asked the Oracle replied “the walls of wood will remain unsacked”

Athenians were Afraid Athenians wanted to run to the Island of Salamis Themistocles however called them cowards and said the “walls of wood” were the ships he had built Nobody believed him and they all left Athens to seek nearby protection on the island of Salamis

Athens Burns Persians attacked from the North after their finally getting through the mountains at Thermopylae They reached Athens and nobody was there They burned the whole city all the way to the ground Xerxes was victorious

Finishing the Greeks Not satisfied with burning down Athens Xerxes wanted to finish the Greeks He took his ships and sailed to the bay of Salamis to finish the Greeks

Admiral Themistocles Admiral Themistocles takes charge He begins by organizing all of the Greek Trireme Ships Then he sends one of his slaves to Xerxes to tell him that the Greeks were about to run

Xerxes falls for the Trick Instead of attacking that day Xerxes sets up his ships to cut off all escape routes so the Greeks cannot escape He spends the night blocking all escape routes This tired out all the Persian sailors

Xerxes Climbs a Hill Xerxes so confident in final victory climbs a hill to watch the battle from above All of Xerxes Naval Captains advise him to attack the Greeks except one The only woman Naval Captain Artemisia warned not to attack the Greeks

Queen Artemisia Queen Artemisia was the only woman Naval Commander that the Persians had She was a Greek Queen who had been captured by Xerxes Army and forced to fight for them She knew that Greek Naval strategies & knew that it was not a good idea to attack

Xerxes Attacks Xerxes attacks sailing into the strait of Salamis That is where the Greek Navy waits for him Xerxes is quickly trapped and even though he has 3 times as many ships they cannot move http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CJT_v1Ukbg

Essential Questions Get with a partner and answer… Which NATURAL BARRIER did Themistocles to defeat the Persians in the Battle of Salamis? Why would the Athenians choose to live in a region that had NATURAL BARRIERS? How does the region of Greece’s physical features help Ancient Greece in their famous battles?

Gridlocked Xerxes ships become Gridlocked and they cannot move without smashing into another one of his ships Themistocles surrounds Xerxes ships and annihilates them

Ancient Greece wins at Salamis Themistocles & Ancient Greece wins at Salamis A furious but defeated Xerxes realizes that Greece will never be his Greece has kept their independence from the largest Empire of Earth

With Victory comes Culture Greece is able to keep their culture intact They are able to keep their Democratic Government intact Greece’s culture shapes the future culture of all the Western World

Essential Questions Get with a partner and answer… What is a DEMOCRACY?

Important Points 6.G.1.1 (Natural Barriers) Themistocles uses the Strait of Salamis as a Natural Barrier to protect his ships and force Persia’s ships into gridlock 6.G.1.3 (distinguishing characteristic of regions [physical features]) Most of Greece has mountains which played an important role in Ancient Greece’s famous battles 6.C&G.1.1 (Democracy) Ancient Greece is the birthplace of democracy where the people/citizens vote on decisions