Download greco-persian wars

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GRECO-PERSIAN WARS
B.C. 499 TO 479
Task: Read ~ Write ~ Respond
Use your Split note-taking skills
As many historians have suggested, the Greco-Persian Wars were a David and
Goliath struggle with David holding out for political and intellectual liberty against
the monolithic theocratic Persian war machine.
When the Persians annexed Ionia in about 545, acquiring a foothold on the Aegean,
the strongest city state in mainland Greece is Sparta. None of the Greek states risk an
armed excursion in defense of the Ionians, but the Spartans do send a message to the
Persian emperor, Cyrus, warning him to keep away from Greece. His reply, as
reported, suggests genuine bewilderment. 'Who are the Spartans?', he asks.
The Persian War is one of the most famous, and most fascinating wars in human
history. It was fought in the fifth century BC between Persian Empire, far and away
the largest and wealthiest kingdom on earth, and a collection of independent Greek
cities who lived in relative poverty and obscurity. The Greeks had not a fraction of
the wealth or population of the Persians, and were themselves disunited and engaged
in perpetual conflicts, yet they soundly defeated the Persians and retained their
independence and freedoms. The Persian war was remarkable not only for its
ferocious battles, which showcased the superiority of Greek military methods, but
also for the striking personalities involved, the democratic character of the military
command, and the ability of the fractious Greeks to drop their strong divisions and
unite behind a single cause. It is a popular war to study, not only because of its
striking military engagements and historical significance but also for the great human
dramas that were played out behind the scenes.
The most famous battles of the Persian war were fought on mainland Greece, but the
conflict began in Asia minor, when the Greek colonies of Ionia, revolted against their
Persian overlords. This rebellion was called the Ionian revolt, and lasted from BC
499, to 494. It began when rebels, under the leadership of a Aristagoras of Miletus,
sacked and burned the local capital city of Sardis, and ended when the Persians
retook Miletus and crushed the rebel stronghold, after the naval battle of Lade.
Darius I., the Persian king was very incensed that Athens had lent ships and military
support to the rebellion, and determined to raise an army to invade Athens to punish
it for its interference. During his campaigns to put down the rebellion, he had
conquered much of Thrace and Macedonia, and so he already controlled much of the
territory he would need to launch an invasion from the north. The first expedition he
prepared was led by his son-in-law Mardonius, in 492. It crossed the Hellespont into
Thrace, but the entire fleet was destroyed by a sudden storm off the Chalcidice
Peninsula, and he returned to Persia.
**Refer to the map at the end of the packet
Battle of Sardis
Ionian Greeks defeat Persians
In 498 the Greek cities of Asia minor revolted from Persia, and burned
Sardis, the regional capital, to the ground.
Battle of Ephesus
Persians defeat Ionian Greeks
Fought 499 B.C., between the Athenians and Ionians, under
Aristagorus, and the Persians, under Artaphernes. The Greeks who were
retreating to the coast after burning Sardis, were overtaken by the
pursuing Persians, under the walls of Ephesus, and signally defeated.
The Athenians thereupon withdrew their fleet, and took no further part
in the war.
Battle of Lade
Persians defeat Ionian Greeks
Fought B.C. 494, between a Persian fleet of 600 sail, which was
blockading Miletus under Artaphernes, and 353 Lesbian, Chian and
Samian ships, which attempted to raise the siege. The Samians, bribed
by the Persians, deserted at the beginning of the action, with the
exception of 11 vessels, and the Greeks were totally defeated, with
heavy loss. The Chians made a specially gallant fight.
1. WHAT UNITED THE GREEKS TO RISE UP AGAINST A SUPERIOR ENEMY?
2. WHO WAS THE AGGRESSOR DURING THE FIRST GRECO-PERSIAN WAR?
3. WHAT ASSUMPTIONS CAN WE MAKE AS FOR PERSIAN HOSTILTIY TOWARDS THE GREEKS?
WERE THEY AFTER?
WHAT
SECOND PERSIAN INVASION (UNDER DARIUS): 490 B.C.
Darius launched his second expedition in 490. This time, the entire invading force,
including cavalry, was sent by ship across the Aegean Sea. The expedition was led by
Artaphernes and Datis, two Persian commanders who had put down the Ionian
rebellion, and Hippias, an exiled Athenian tyrant. The Persians first besieged and
captured the main city on the Island of Euboea before landing in Attica on the shore
of Marathon. The Athenians, ten thousand strong, were awaiting the arrival of
reinforcements from Sparta, but under the influence of Miltiades, a general who had
previously been one of the leaders of the Ionian rebellion, they attacked immediately,
just as the Persians were breaking camp. Although the Persian forces were much
larger, they were surprised and routed with great loss.
Marathon was in no sense a decisive victory over the Persians. However, it was the
first time the Greeks had bested the Persians on land, and "their victory endowed the
Greeks with a faith in their destiny which was to endure for three centuries, during
which western culture was born."
Greek historian, Herodotus, mentions for several events a date in the lunisolar
calendar, of which each Greek city state used a variant. Astronomical computation
allows to derive an absolute date in the proleptic Julian calendar which is much used
by historians as the chronological frame. August Bšckh in 1855 concluded that the
battle took place on 12 September 490 BC in the Julian calendar, and this is the
conventionally accepted date. However, this depends on when the Spartans held their
festival and it is possible that the Spartan calendar was one month ahead of that of
Athens. In that case the battle took place on 12 August 490 BC. If the battle really
occurred in August, temperatures in the area can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit and
thus make the marathon run event more plausible.
According to the Greek historian Herodotus, who was born in the year of the battle,
an Athenian soldier named Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to ask for
assistance. This event was later turned into the popular legend that Pheidippides ran
from Marathon to Athens. The traditional story relates that Pheidippides, an Athenian
herald, ran the 42 km (26 miles) from the battlefield by the town of Marathon to
Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC)
with the words "We were victorious" then died on the spot.
Siege of Eretria
Persians defeat Eretria
This town was besieged 490 B.C. when a large Persian force landed on
the Island of Euboea and besieged its largest town. The Eretrians
appealed to the Athenians for help, but before they could respond,
traitors inside the town aided the invaders, and it fell after a short
resistance.
Battle of Marathon
Athenians defeat Persians
Fought September 490 B.C., between the Athenians and Plataeans,
10,000 and 1,000 strong respectively, under Miltiades, and the army of
Darius Hystaspes, about 100,000 in number, under Datis. Being greatly
outnumbered, Miltiades altered the usual arrangement of the Greek
line, so as to extend his wings across the whole width of the valley in
which the battle was fought, and thus escape being outflanked. To
effect this he was forced to weaken his centre, which was repulsed, but
both his wings drove back the invaders, and then fell upon and routed
the victorious Persian centre. The Persians fled in confusion to their
ships, which they succeeded in launching, and escaped with a loss of
6,400. The Athenians lost 192 only.
1.
WHO DOES ATHENS SEEK HELP FROM?
2.
HOW AND WHY DID THE PERSIAN WARS INFLUENCE THE RISE OF THE ATHENS ?
3.
WHAT EVENT DO WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AS A RESULT OF THE PERSIAN WARS?