1. The Persian Wars

2. Persian Wars Basics When: 499-479 BCE
Who: Allied Greek city states v. the Persian Empire

3. Persia
Largest empire the world had ever seen
Ruled by powerful kings

4. Before the War
When? 546 BCE
Persia conquers the Greeks along the Ionian coast and force them to pay tribute (taxes) to the Persian Empire

5. Ionian Revolt
When: 499 BCE Ionians asked the naval power of Athens to help them gain independence
Athens sends a fleet and wins a quick victory and then goes home
Ionians are left to fight for themselves
By 493 BCE the Persians had defeated the Ionians

6. Helmet with face guard and plume Wooden circular shield
Greek Soldier
Helmet with face guard and plume
Long spear
Wooden circular shield
Bronze chest armour
Greaves
(leg armour)
Greek warriors were known as hoplites. They fought in groups called phalanxes.

7. Phalanx Central Idea: Group is more important than the individual
Each person has a shield and a spear
The shield cover themselves and the person to their left

8. Long slim hull for speed
Greek Trireme
Sail
Group of hoplites
Rowers below deck
Bronze battering ram
Three rows of oars
Greek warships were known as triremes. The name trireme means ‘a ship with three rows of oars’.
Long slim hull for speed

9. Battle of Marathon 490 BCE Athenian army had to fight alone
490 BCE
Athenian army had to fight alone
Tricked the Persian army into a position where they could attack on three sides
Phalanx formation proved effective against Persian foot soldiers

10. Pheidippedes Run
Ran 150mi journey from Marathon to Sparta in two days to ask for help
Sparta said no
Also said to have run the 26mi from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory!
Then he died 
Modern Marathons use this number of miles

11. Xerxes Attacks King Darius dies in 490 and his son Xerxes takes over
Launches a new invasion of Greece in 480 BCE
Crosses the Hellespont (literally Bridge of Greece) known today as the Dardanelles
Ropes hundreds of boats together to cross the water

12. Battle of Thermopylae
Greeks needed to slow the Persian Army down so that it did not get to Athens so quickly
Thermopylae was a narrow pass through the mountains
A traitor betrayed the Greeks and showed the Persians a way around the pass
Persians attacked from the rear

14. Battle Outcome
King Leonidas of Sparta sent most of the 7,000 Greek troops ahead to Athens to save them
300 Spartan soldiers fought to the death to slow down the Persians
Gave Athens enough time to get 200 ships ready for battle

15. Battle of Salamis
Greek fleet of triremes attacked the Persian fleet at the strait of Salamis

16. Battle Outcome
Greek ships were smaller and faster and could turn better in tight spaces
Persian fleet was practically destroyed
Considered the turning pt. of the Persian War

17. Importance of the Persian Wars
Athens, Sparta, and other Greek city-states came together to fight Persia
Athenian victories at Marathon & Salamis left Athens in control of the Aegean Sea
Athens was not conquered so it continued to make innovations in the field of government and learning

18. How were the Greeks able to defeat the large and mighty Persians?