1. Greco-Persian Wars (We’re not watching 300)

2. Greco-Persian Wars
All accounts of war are Greek, no Persian records found
Main source- Herodotus BC
Persian Wars BC
“Father of History”
"For the first time, a chronicler set himself to trace the origins of a conflict not to a past so remote so as to be utterly fabulous, nor to the whims and wishes of some god, nor to a people's claim to manifest destiny, but rather explanations he could verify personally."
Historians might have criticized his methods, but they felt his work was still accurate.

3. Greco-Persian Wars
6th Century BC, Persian (Iran) arises as the most powerful nation in the region
In comparison the Persian nation dwarfed all of Greece (Cuba vs USA)
constant conflict between Greek city-states further weakened their chances vs Persia
superior weaponry, training, & leadership helped to lesson the gap
before attacking mainland Greece, Persia attacked Ionia in Asia Minor

4. Greco-Persian Wars
559 BCE Persia was under the rule of Cyrus the Great
unable to cooperate the Greeks/Ionia fall to the Persians
the Ionian states are forced to join the Persian empire/military
499 BCE an attempted revolt in Ionia was crushed by the Persians
The Battle of Marathon
490 BCE- King Darius sends military to punish Athens for Ionian revolt
Persians select the plain of Marathon as their base of operation

5. Greco-Persian Wars
a runner is sent to Sparta as Athens ask support, Sparta says not for another week
9000 Citizen soldiers of Athens go to meet the Persians
the Athenians elected to attack the Persians instead of waiting
charging across the battlefield the Athenians put the Persians on the run
Greek Historians claim 192 Greek deaths vs 6400 Persian dead
a runner is sent from Marathon to Athens to proclaim the victory
despite the defeat the Persians are far from destroyed

6. Greco-Persian Wars Thermopylae
10 years of inactivity by the Persian followed Marathon
Persia was now under the rule of Xeres (480 BCE)
the Persians cross the Hellespont by stringing together boats into a bridge
Greek Historians say the Persian forces numbered close to 2.5 million, but it was more likely that they were around
the Greeks had little time to prepare for the attack & many intended to accept Persian control

7. Greco-Persian Wars Thermopylae
it was decided that the Spartans would defend the Hot Gates/ Thermopylae
a force of 4000 soldiers lead by King Leonidas & his 300 “bodyguards” would be charged with holding the gate until the entire Greek army arrived
A Greek Sheppard showed the Persians a pathway that allowed the them to encircle the Greeks
Leonidas & roughly 1000 soldiers stayed behind & were killed
The Persian Army attacked & burned Athens- most citizen had already been evacuated.

8. Greco-Persian Wars Salamis (Naval Battle)
300 Greek Triremes were positioned at Salamis
after a delay the much larger Persian fleet was drawn into battle
Xeres watched from a spot on top of a hill as his fleet was destroyed
the superior speed and manoeuvrability of the Greek ships allowed then to gain the upper hand in the narrow pass
this defeat was devastating for the Persians
Xerxes returned to Persia leaving his forces under the general Maridonius

9. Greco-Persian Wars Plataea
Mardonius moved his forces to a plain near the town of Plataea
finally all of the Greeks formed a united front & met the Persians head on
the Greeks were victorious, killing Mardonius & taking hold of a large amount of the Persians wealth
the Persians hastily retreated from Greece
The Greek Navy attacked the Persians and freed the Ionian Greeks in Asia Minor

10. Greco-Persian Wars Xerxes (The Great)
Son of Darius I, succeed his father in 486 BC- 36 years old
Took over control of Empire in midst of preparation for another Greek invasion.
Ruled over more of mainland Greece than any previous Persian ruler until his defeats at Salamis & Plataea
465 BCE Xerxes is assassinated by the head of his bodyguard
Rumours that his eldest son was involved in the murder.

11. Minoans
on Crete
1628 Thera Eruption (Minoans decline begins)
1200 Trojan War & downfall of Mycenaeans
Ionian revolt against the Persians
490 Battle of Marathon
480 Thermopylae & Salamis
479 Battle of Plataea (Persians defeated)
The Peloponnesian Wars
338 Philip of Macedon conquers Greek City-states & then is assassinated
331 Battle of Gaugamela
323 Alexander dies, empire breaks apart
148 Macedonia becomes province of Rome
2011 AD- Boston Bruins win Stanley Cup