1. Greek Wars
Persian Immortals

2. Persian Wars Fought between Greece and Persian Empire
Persians take over Ionian part of Greek territory, the colonists rebel and Athens sends help
Darius invades Athens to punish them

3. Military Greeks used phalanx Military formation most powerful
could fight as a unit

4. Phalanx

5. Battle of Marathon Persians vow to destroy Athens
Greeks use Phalanx to beat Persians (Spartans are nowhere to be found)
Persians retreat
NIKE!!!

6. Battle of Thermopylae
Xerxes (Darius’ son) tries to destroy Greece with his “Immortals”
Come to narrow pass with 7,000 Greek soldiers and 300 Spartans

7. Battle of Thermopylae
Fought for days, until a traitor told Persians about secret path around cliffs
Spartans held pass while other Greeks retreated
Athens moved to an island just off the coast to prepare for battle and the Persians burned the city down

8. Persian Wars
Persians were then defeated at sea (Xerxes watched from a hill sitting on a golden throne while his army fell)
Athens becomes the leader of the Delian League- a group of 140 city-states against Persia (own the sea)
Sparta does NOT join (they form their own league-own the land)

9. Peloponnesian War Athens vs. Sparta Athens-greater sea power
Sparta-greater army

10. Peloponnesian War
Pericles- great hero and Athenian leader- wanted to avoid land battles with Sparta so came up with an idea…

11. Walls of Athens

12. Peloponnesian War
Spartans march through Athenian territory burning their food supplies
Athenians bring everyone in and close the doors to the city walls

13. Reasons for the Downfall of Greece
Plague hits Athens during Peloponnesian War, Pericles dies
Peloponnesian War weakens Greece (27 year war)
Macedonia becomes looming threat to the north