Download MILITARY HISTORY The Persian Wars

MILITARY HISTORY
The Persian Wars
In each unit we
will look at…
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•
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Strategy
Tactics
Technology
Leadership
Logistics
A note on strategy & tactics…
• “In military usage, a distinction is made between
STRATEGY and TACTICS.
– Strategy is the utilization, during both peace and
war, of all of a nation's forces, through large-scale,
long-range planning and development, to ensure
security or victory.
– Tactics deals with the use
and deployment of troops
in actual combat”
"Strategy." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 24
Aug. 2010. <http://dictionary.reference.com/>.
Logistics
• “The branch of military science and operations
dealing with the procurement, supply, and
maintenance of equipment, with the movement,
evacuation, and hospitalization of personnel, with
the provision of facilities and services, and with
related matters.”
“Logistics." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 24
Aug. 2010. <http://dictionary.reference.com/>.
QUESTION
How do each of the aforementioned factors
determine the outcome of a war?
Strategy?
Tactics?
Technology?
Leadership?
Logistics?
The Greco-Persian Wars
500-449 BC
See textbook, pg. 10
The Ionian Rebellion
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Greek city-states in Persia rebelled
They were helped by Athens
Persian emperor Darius crushed the rebellion
Darius seeks to burn Athens for revenge and
prepares to invade mainland Greece
The Battle of Marathon
• 490 BCE
– Persian force lands at Marathon
• Athenian Assembly (Democratic)
– Decides to advance to Marathon
– Send runner to Sparta for help
• Greeks
– 9000 Athenian hoplites
– 1000 Platean hoplites
• Led by Miltiades
• Persians
– 20,000 to 95,000 Persians
• Mostly lightly armed archers
• cavalry
The Battle of Marathon
• Greeks extend line of hoplites
– Weak in center, strongest in the sides
– Persians strong in center,
weak in sides
lightly armed
– Hoplites slam into
Persians at a run
– Persians surrounded,
cut to pieces
The Aftermath
• Spartans show up late
– Examine
• Persian weaponry
• Athenian tactics
• Impressive victory
• Athens
– Victory surprised Athenians
– Vindicate democracy
History vs. Hollywood
Discuss Thermopylae & 300
Salamis (September 480 BCE)
• Battle of Salamis
– Hellenic League uses geography to their advantage
– Persians outnumber Greeks (700 to 370 ships)
– Greek ship more maneuverable
• Sink most of Persian fleet
– Xerxes returns to Persia
fearing weather
– Persian army left under
command of Mardonius
Platea August 479 BCE
• Battle of Platea
– 40,000 Hellenic League hoplites vs.
– Approx. 75,000-120,000 Persians
• Greek movement interpreted as retreat
– Spartans charge Persian lines
– Athenians defeat Thebans
• Persians crushed, invasion stopped
– Hellenic League takes war into Persian territory
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What factors contributed
to Greek victory in the
Persian Wars?