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Persian Wars
Indiana World History Standards
SS.WH.2.5 2007
Greek Civilization: Identify and explain the significance of achievements of Greeks in mathematics, science, philosophy, architecture and
the arts and their impact on various peoples and places in subsequent periods of world history.
SS.WH.2.6 2007
Greek Civilization: Analyze the major events of the wars between the Persians and the Greeks, reasons why the Persians failed to
conquer the Greeks, and consequences of the wars for Greek civilization.
SS.WH.2.7 2007
Greek Civilization: Compare and contrast the daily life, social hierarchy, culture and institutions of Athens and Sparta; describe the rivalry
between Athens and Sparta; and explain the causes and consequences of the Peloponnesian War.
SS.WH.2.8 2007
Greek Civilization: Describe the role of Alexander the Great in the spread of Hellenism in Southwest and South Asia, North Africa; and
parts of Europe.
Today’s Objectives
- To understand the causes of the Persian Wars
- To understand the importance of Marathon & Thermopylae
- To understand the importance of the Persian Wars on Western Civilization 4
Greek World during the Persian Wars
• Road to War
→ Persian Empire was at its zenith in 500 BC
…in Asia Minor, former Greek City-States were under Persian
rule & rebelled against the Persian Empire
…Athens sent ships & soldiers to aid the rebels
…Persians crush the rebels & turn their attention to Athens
His anger was such that he vowed to punish them and every night at dinner he had a servant repeat to him "Lord,
don't forget the Athenians"
• Battle of Marathon (490 BC)
Last Stand of the 300: “Persians at Marathon”
→ Darius sends a large force to Marathon near Athens
…Athens receives little support and is forced to fight alone
…a surprise Athenian victory causes the Persians to retreat
…Athenian tactics will offset the
large number advantage of the
Persians
-foreshadowing the events to
follow
• Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC)
→ Second effort under Xerxes thwarted largely because of
Spartan delaying stand (300 Spartans + 7,000 other Greeks)
against large Persian force (100,000 to 1,000,000)
…battle was a total loss for the Greeks, but helped win the war
…Persians are forced to retreat after the majority of their navy
is defeated by the Athenians & other Greek allies
Thermopylae
• Importance
→ Preserves Greek way of life (and democracy)
…Athens is destroyed, but rebuilt stronger than before
…creates confidence that leads to Greek “Golden Age”
→ Sends the Persian Empire into decline
…sets the stage for Alexander nearly 150 years later
Stranger, go tell the
Spartans
That we lie here
True, even to the death
To our Spartan way of life
Essential Question
Describe the importance of the Persian Wars on western
civilization?
Target Questions
• What started the Persian Wars?
• How did the Athenians defeat the Persians at Marathon?
• What was the Spartan role at Thermopylae?
• What happens to Persia after the war?
Required Reading Question(s)
1) What factors led to the Persian defeat?