Download The Persian Wars

The Persian Wars
Battle of Marathon
--an underdog victory for the Greeks
--Persians land on the beach at Marathon. Plan
to invade the mainland with 25,000 men
--Runner sent to Athens (24 miles) to tell of
invasion and get reinforcements.
--Runner dies after delivering message
--After a 7 day standoff, the Greeks finally drive
the Persians back to their ships
--Invasion prevented
Thermopylae
--Persians send a huge invasion force: 400,000 men, 750 warships
--All leading city-states join an alliance to fight a common enemy
--Spartans lead the alliance/Corinthian League
--The Greeks hold off the Persians at the mountain pass at Thermopayle
Betrayal and Courage
--A Greek helps the Persians to get around the Greek lines
--The Greeks are forced to retreat
--300 Spartans lead by Leonidas make a stand.
--27,000 Persians are killed before the Spartans are all killed
--This gives the Athenian navy time to get into position to fight the
Persians at sea
--Persian invasion is prevented. Sparta’s military saves Athenian
democracy.
Salamis
 --First
great naval Battle
 --Athenian navy destroys the Persian
navy
 --Persia retreats and gives up on the
idea of conquering Greece and
expanding their influence in the
Mediterranean
 --Victory begins a Golden Age for
Greece.