Download Greece and Persia

Greece and Persia
Vs.
Greek
Migrations
• Mycenaean collapse left many
Greeks traveling overseas,
forming new settlements—
colonies
• Many of them were from
Athens and Eretria
• One of the first areas they
settled was the coast of Asia
Minor (Turkey)
The Persian
Empire
• The Persians seized
control of the Greek
poleis of Asia Minor in
547 B.C.—or Ionia
• They were a mighty
empire, which
maintained control by
satraps/satrapies—
regional governors which
collected taxes and
enforced the edicts of
their King
Ionian Revolt
• The Ionians rebelled against the
Persians (499 B.C.) and called for aid
from their fellow Greeks
• Only Athens and Eretria responded
• With this aid, they fought valiantly
• But the revolt was defeated in 494
B.C.
• The Persians found out who helped,
and vowed revenge…
Herodotus
• Considered to be the “father of
history” by many, the “father of
lies” by a few—due to inaccuracies
and translator errors
• Nonetheless, he is the first to write
a ‘historical’ account
• He states that the stealing of
women and sack of Troy by the
Greeks were the first inciting
events for the Persian Wars
1st Persian Invasion
• 492 B.C. - The Persian Army followed
the coast, while their Navy islandhopped to meet them on the
mainland
• Their commander was Mardonius,
son-in-law of the Great King Darius I
• The campaign was cut short by
Thracian raids on their camp and a
storm at sea which hampered naval
reinforcements
• Darius sent messengers demanding
all the poleis submit to Persian rule
• All accepted…except Athens and
Sparta, who executed them…
^ overview of the invasion routes from the 1st and 2nd
Invasions
“remember the
AtheniAns”
• A second Persian force, under Datis and
Artaphernes was sent.
• They captured the Cyclades islands and
reached Euboea and captured the
capital of Eretria.
• They landed on the plains of Marathon
and were met by the full Athenian army,
under the command of Miltiades.
• The Persians’ plan would have been to
take Athens and the Attic peninsula…
key words: would have
Euboea
Athens
Darius reportedly commanded his servants
every day to tell him “master, remember the
Athenians” so that he would never forget to
get his revenge for their aid in the Ionian
Revolt.
Battle of
Marathon
• About 25 miles from Athens, Miltiades
positioned his army to block roads inward.
• He sent a running messenger,
Pheidippides, to call for Spartan aid—but
they would not march until their Carneia
festival was over, delaying their arrival for
at least 10 days.
• Plataea sent a reinforcement of 1,000
Hoplites.
• Although there were many strategoi
(generals; strategists), they all deferred to
Miltiades
Battle Commences
• The Persians, after days of standing
stalemates, sent their cavalry to their
ships to wheel around and attack
Athens simultaneously.
• This is when Miltiades struck, he used
the terrain such as heavily forested
areas, mountains, and rivers to box the
Persians into a double-envelopment.
• Attacked from all sides, the Persians
were crushed.
• But their fleet was still sailing towards
Athens…
The Legendary
Runner__________
• Pheidippides was sent 140 miles to
Sparta, while the army under Miltiades
force-marched after Marathon 25 miles
to Athens.
• Their hope was to cut off the Persian
fleet, and it worked. Seeing the
Athenians on top of their walls, ready
for another battle, they retreated.
• Legend says Pheidippides ran before
the army and shouted “nenikēkamen!”
(we won!) before dying of exhaustion.
• His story inspired the modern-day
Marathon running traditions.
Aftermath
• The Spartans were disappointed they
did not take place in such a historic
victory—even telling the Athenians
they fought heroically.
• This led to even more tension between
Athens and Sparta.
• Athens strengthened its ties with
poleis which helped them, while
Sparta later sought its own allies…
• Darius was furious, and made
preparations to invade with even
greater numbers.
The dead were so numerous, they entombed
them within a mound (soros) which still exists
today.
Herodotus, Book Six
– the “ghost wArrior”
• The fighting
was so fierce,
Herodotus tells
a ghostly tale.