1. The Persian Empire and Persian Wars
Persia vs. Greece

2. The Extent of the Persian Empire

3. The Religions of Persia
Zoroastrianism
Zoroaster, a Persian prophet
Struggle between evil and good, all are involved
Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda
Popular amongst Roman military
Judaism

4. Remember Cyrus? Developed a vast Persian Empire
First emperor of Persia
Conquered the Ionian Greeks

5. Cyrus’ Legacies Religious Tolerance
Cyrus honored local religious customs
Welcomed Jews to return to Jerusalem
Civility
Armies did not loot conquests
Kind toward conquered peoples

6. After Cyrus… Darius seizes throne in 522 BCE Crushed revolts
Expands empire into Greece, farther into Egypt, farther north into central Europe

7. Key Player: Darius
Under Darius – Ionian Greeks rebelled against Persia to gain independence
Athens helped the Ionian Greeks by sending aid
Persia stopped the Ionian rebels and wanted revenge on Athens for interfering with their personal business

8. Ionians lived here →

9. As we read the selection, “The Persian Wars”, think about the causes of the wars, the important leaders and battles, and the effects of the wars. You’ll be creating a comic strip of them afterwards!

10. The First Persian War: 491-490 BCE

11. Killing the messenger

12. Hoplite

13. Phalanx

14. Pheidippides running from Marathon

15. The Second Persian War 480-479 BCE

16. Xerxes

17. King Leonidas of Sparta at the battle of Thermopylae

22. Thermopylae / Salamis
Thermopylae – Key land battle fought between the Greeks and Persians during the 2nd Persian invasion of Greece in 480 B.C. At a narrow mountain pass, 7,000 Greeks, including 300 Spartans, blocked the Persian army led by Xerxes. The Greeks stopped the Persian advance for 3 days. Only a traitor’s informing the Persians about a secret path around the pass ended their brave stand. Fearing defeat, the Spartans held the Persians back while the other Greek forces retreated. The Spartans’ valiant sacrifice – all were killed – made a great impression on all Greeks.
Salamis – Decisive Naval battle of the 2nd Persian invasion of Greece. Themistocles, an Athenian leader, convinced the Athenians to abandon their city and fight at sea near the island of Salamis, a few miles southwest. After setting fire to Athens, Xerxes sent his warships to block both ends of the channel. However, the channel was very narrow, and the Persian ships had difficulty turning. Smaller Greek ships armed with battering rams attacked, puncturing the hulls of many Persian warships, destroying a third of the Persian fleet.
C. 5, S. 2, Q. 3: Why were the Spartan soldiers willing to sacrifice themselves at Thermopylae?

23. Battle of Salamis

24. Battle of Plataea

25. The Aftermath: Effects of the War
Both Athens and Sparta claim credit for victory over Persia = led to problems
Sparta was still very weak after Thermopylae
Athens emerges as the most powerful city-state (bully)
Athens creates the Delian League (alliance with other city states to protect themselves if Persia ever returns)
Athens rebuilds their city-state better than ever, and they experience a GOLDEN AGE.

26. Last Stand of the 300 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8MF6I9Tw4
Start at 1:10