1. The Persian Wars

2. The Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great

3. The Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great ~ The Rise of Persia (559 – 530 BCE)
Led Persians in revolt against Medes (ca BCE)
Conquered Babylonian Empire (539 BCE)
Establishes the greatest empire in the world to date!

4. The Persian Empire

5. The Persian Empire Cambyses ~ son of Cyrus (530 – 522 BCE)
Conquers Egypt (525 BCE)
A drunken lunatic?
Problem is…how to rule such a huge empire?

6. The Persian Empire
Darius I
(also “the Great”)

7. The Persian Empire Darius I (“the Great”) ~ 522 – 486 BCE
Organized empire’s provinces
Kept provincial governors under control
Maintained communication throughout empire

8. The Persian Empire Darius I (“the Great”) ~ 521 – 485 BCE
Policy of tolerance toward people’s customs and religions
Kept local rulers in power
Worked hard for economic prosperity
King as divine

9. The Persian Wars Main factors:
Persian expansion into Western Asia Minor
Athens holds land in this area, and is concerned about threats to its grain route
Ionian Greeks revolt (499 BCE)

10. The First Persian War
Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)

11. The Persian Empire Xerxes ~ 485 – 465 BCE Son of Darius
Prepared huge fleet
and army to punish
the Greeks

12. The Second Persian War 480 – 479 BCE Greek League
Athenian leader Themistocles recommends building up navy

13. The Second Persian War Important battles & events
Crossing the Hellespont
Battle of Thermopylae
Athens is sacked & burned
Battle of Salamis
Battle of Plataea

14. The Second Persian War

15. The Persian Wars: Results
Greek pride, sense of accomplishment; country secure to continue its development
Expansion of Athenian power
Barrier between Greece & the Near East