1. Coach Crews World History
The Persian Wars
Coach Crews
World History

2. Before The Persian Empire united a wide area under a single government
- Cyrus the Great
- Darius
Both Sparta and Athens played a role in defeating the Persians
- rivals set aside their differences to work
together for a common cause

3. During The Persian Wars Persia controls Greek cities in Asia Minor
Athenian army helps the Greeks in Asia Minor but the rebellion fails
Darius decides the mainland Greeks must be stopped

4. During The Battle of Marathon A short distance from Athens
Persians waited for several days for the Athenians
Persian commander ordered them back on the boats
When the horsemen were on the boat, Greeks attacked the Persian foot soldiers and defeated them
Athenian messenger ran 25 miles back to Athens. He collapsed, and his last word was “victory”

5. During Another Persian Strike
Darius dies and his son Xerxes becomes king. He vows revenge on Greece.
Athens and Sparta join forces
Greeks fight the Persians at Thermoplyae, Greeks lost but assembled 200 ships
Greeks used their smaller, faster ships to win the Battle of Salamis. Persians marched on and burn Athens
Greek army won at Plataea, the turning point of the war. The Persians retreated back to Asia Minor

6. During What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall? Weakened by war
Rulers taxed the people and spent the money lavishly
Sons of kings had little power, so they killed rulers to get power

7. After EVENT DESCRIPTION MARATHON THERMOPLYAE SALAMIS PLATAEA
WHAT CAUSED THE END OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE?

8. After BATTLE ACTION MARATHON
GREEKS OVERWHELMED THE PERSIANS, WAITED FOR CALVARY TO BOARD THE SHIP BEFORE ATTACK
THERMOPLYAE
GREEKS BETRAYED, PERSIANS WIN BUT GREEKS GET 200 SHIPS READY
SALAMIS
GREEK SHIPS DEFEAT THE PERSIANS, PERSIANS BURN ATHENS
PLATAEA
GREEKS CRUSH PERSIANS, PERSIANS RETREAT BACK TO ASIA MINOR
END OF PERSIAN EMPIRE
WEAKENED BY WAR, HIGH TAXES AND LAVISH SPENDING, SONS ATTACKED RULERS IN BATTLE FOR POWER