Download Persian Wars Introduction

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Persian Wars Introduction
Fought between the Persian Empire and the Greek City-States
Time Period: 499-479 B.C.E.
Location: Greece and Asia Minor
The Persians had expanded their empire from the Middle East, to Africa (Egypt), South East Asia, and Asia
Minor. An invasion of Greece would be next.
Advantages at the start of the War
Persia
Greece
Powerful Army
United city-states
Large Population and lots of soldiers
Same language
Conquered areas fought for Persia
Fighting on their own soil
Weapons and Resources
Banding together against a common enemy
Balance of great Army and Navy
Famous Battles:
Battle at Marathon, Battle of Thermopylae, Battle of Salamis, and Battle of Plateau
Important figures:
King Darius, King Xerxes, Pheidippides, Miltiades, Leonidas, Herodotus, and Themistocles
Key Terms:
Hoplites, 300, Athenians, Spartans, Persians, Hellespont, Ionians, Cavalry, Trireme and Allies
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Persian Wars Vocabulary
Vocabulary Words
Persian Wars
Definitions
A series of wars fought between the
Persian Empire and the Greek city-states
from 499-479 B.C.E.
Polis
The name for a Greek city-state
Allies
States that agree to help each other against
a common enemy
Athenian
Someone from Athens
Spartan
Someone from Sparta
Corinthian
Someone from Corinth
Persian
Someone from Persia
Illustration/Example
Hoplite
Greek civilian/soldier named after the shield
that they would carry.
Persian Empire
The largest empire the world had seen
up to its time. Persia ruled over Africa, the
Middle East and Asia.
Cavalry
Soldiers who fought on horseback
Trireme
An ancient Greek wooden warship with 3
rows of oars on each side of the ship
Phalanx
A close knit fight formation perfected by the
Greeks where they would interlock their
shields and march/fight shoulder to
shoulder with one another
The strait between the Aegean Sea and the
Hellespont
Sea of Marmara that separates Europe and
Asia. Area where Persia set up pontoons
and crossed into Greece.
(Present day called the Dardenelles)
Colonies
Settlements set up in distant lands
Ionian Revolt
A rebellion by Greek colonies set up in Asia
Minor to not follow the rule of the Persian
Empire. Led to the Persian Wars.
King Darius
King of the Persian Empire who invaded
Greece at the start of the Persian wars.
Led Persia at the Battle of Marathon
King Xerxes
King of the Persian Empire after Darius.
Led Persia at the Battle of Thermopylae
and all the battles that followed.
Miltiades
Athenian General who helped lead the
Greek city-states to victory at the Battle of
Marathon
Leonidas
King of Sparta who led 300 Spartans and
other allies at the Battle of Thermopylae
Herodotus
Famous Greek Historian who wrote about
the Persian Wars. Also known as the
“Father of History.”
Pheidippides
Greek messenger who ran from Marathon
to Athens to warn them about the Persian
invasion.
Themistocles
Famous Athenian Naval Commander and
politician who helped lead Greece to victory
at the Battle of Salamis
Battle of Marathon
Athens defeats the Persians at Marathon in
490 B.C.E.
300 Spartans (and 6,000+ allied soldiers)
Battle of Thermopylae
led by King Leonidas who fought to the
death at Thermopylae against the might
Persian Empire in 480 B.C.E.
Naval battle near the Island of Salamis
Battle of Salamis
where the Greeks defeated the Persians
led by Naval Commander Themistocles.
Decisive Battle that ended the Persian
Battle of Plateau
Wars and Persia’s attempt at conquering
Greece in 479 B.C.E.