1. THE TALE OF TWO CITIES & The Persian Wars
Greece’s Finest Hours

2. Geography of Ancient Greece
Greece is located in southeastern Europe whose peninsula extends from the Balkans into the Mediterranean Sea.
It has many gulfs and bays, yet some areas are stony and not suitable for farming, yet other areas grow wheat, barley, citrus, and olives.
The geography of Greece made it very difficult for the city-states to unite.
Instead, they developed independently and became fierce competitors. 2

3. City States of Ancient Greece
Greece was one country divided by several city-states
The two most powerful and well-known city-states were Athens and Sparta
The Greek city-states were usually rivals who did not blend well together, however when attacked by another country (Persia), they banned together to defend their land

4. ATHENIAN CULTURE vs. SPARTAN CULTURE
ATHENS
Influenced by the Mycenaean Culture
Learned more about language, government, civility
People had more say in the Athenian Government
Economy driven by the people
SPARTA
Influenced by the Dorian Culture
Were enslaved under Dorian rule, that’s how they became soldiers
People had very little say in government
Rules of the economy driven by the Government

5. SPARTAN CHILDREN Inspected at birth Why?
Boys ages 7-18 off to training/ Girls receive some training
After 18 Men enter army if they survived training
Age 30- Spartans gain full citizenship

6. ATHENIAN CHILDREN Baby boys are prized at birth in Athens
Wealthy Athenians go to school to learn about the arts, writing, athletics
Girls remain at home, to learn household duties
Men enter the army at 18 for 2 years and fight only when war comes up

7. Cause of the Persian War
Darius led the Persians to expand their empire from Asia Minor to the Border of India
Part of his rule included the Greek city-state Ionia
The Ionians rebelled against the Persians with the help of the Athenians
Darius was furious with Athens for trying to defeat his empire

8. Where is Persia?

9. Why Fight?
Greeks had been settling on the west coast of Asia Minor (Persia)
Persia conquered these colonies
In 499 B.C. Greeks in these colonies revolted against Persian rule (they were used to ruling themselves—democracy)
Athens sent troops to support the revolt

10. Crushing the Revolt
Emperor Darius of Persia crushed the revolt rather quickly
He decided to punish Athens for helping the colonies
After training for a few years Darius sent troops to invade Greece
Sailed on to the Bay of Marathon

11. The Battle of Marathon
Athens asked Sparta to help, but Spartan troops would not arrive for 9 days (they were in the middle of religious festivals)
Other jealous city-states decided not to help Athens against the Persian Empire
So Athens took on the mighty Persian Empire by themselves

12. A Serious Mismatch Persian troops—100,000 Athenian troops—20,000
Did Athens really have any hope against these odds?

13. Victory
The Athenian army was well-trained and did not break formation as they charged the Persian lines
The organized charge surprised the large but scattered (and poorly organized) Persian army
The Persian soldiers turned and ran from the oncoming Athenians

15. A Slaughter
The Athenian army almost drove the Persians back to the sea
Final tally
Persians—6, 400 dead
Athens—192 dead
Darius returned to Persia never to return

16. Connection to the Past
The modern marathon has its roots in the Battle of Marathon
A Greek soldier, Phidippides, ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) to tell the Athenians of the Greek victory and to warn them that the Persians may try to attack
Phidippides died from exhaustion after delivering his message
Today’s 26 mile marathon races remember his heroic act of martyrdom

17. Back for Revenge
The Persian Emperor Darius never returned, but his son Emperor Xerxes did
In 480 B.C. the Persians returned to Greece
They brought even more men this time around

19. The Battle of Thermopylae
Persians met a force of Greeks at Thermopylae
This was a small mountain pass that controlled access to all of Greece
It connected North and South- so you had to pass through Thermopylae to get from North to South
For two days 7,000 Greeks held the Persians back, but…

20. The Downfall A Greek traitor showed the Persians a secret passageway
This allowed the Persians to sneak up from behind and attack the Greeks
Most of the Greek defenders ran away

21. A Heroic Act
About 300 Spartans stayed behind and fought to their deaths
This allowed the other Greeks to escape capture or certain death

24. Here come the Persians The Persians poured into Greece
They got their revenge by wreaking havoc
They even burned Athens to the ground
What were the Greeks to do?

25. The Battle of Salamis
As their city-state burned the Athenian people and the army escaped to the island of Salamis
The Persians were quick to follow the retreating Greeks to Salamis

26. Those Clever Athenians
The Greeks ships first sailed from shore like they were fleeing the island
They then turned quickly around and began ramming the Persian ships
Before the Persians knew what had happened half of their fleet was on the ocean floor
The Persians once again retreated back to Persia

28. The Final Battle The Battle of Plataea
The Greeks and Persians at equal strength
Athens and Sparta fought side by side
Greek military superiority won out and Persia retreated for good

29. How did the Greeks do it? Three reasons
Inherent advantage of the defender
They were better soldiers
They used the element of surprise