Download Persian Wars - Mrs. Helmer

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
CHW3MI
The Persian Wars (Also called the “Greco-Persian Wars)
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The Persian Wars are a defining moment in Greek (and Western) history
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The Athenians regarded the wars against Persia as their greatest and most characteristic moment
Background
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Persians had conquered the Greek city-states of Asia Minor in 546 BCE
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A democratic rebellion in the Ionian city of Miletus (499 BCE) was supported by the Athenians,
who sent twenty ships
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The Athenians conquer the city of Sardis; all Greek cities in Asia Minor join the revolt
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The Athenians, however, went home; by 495 BC, the Persians, under King Darius I (521-486
BCE), had restored control over the rebellious Greek cities
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Athens, unfortunately, had gotten the attention of the Persians
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Athens needed to be punished for the role it played
Major Battles
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490 BCE - Greeks (led by Miltiades) defeat the Persians at the Battle of Marathon
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480 BCE – Persians return under leadership of Xerxes and defeat a small Spartan force under the
leadership of King Leonidas at Thermopylae
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480 BCE – Naval Battle of Salamis off the coast of Attica resulted in Greek victory and the
Persian army had to retreat
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479 BCE – Battle of Plataea last major battle of the Persian wars – decisive Greek victory
Importance of the Persian Wars
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Marathon is the single most important battle in Greek history.
o Had the Athenians lost, Greece would have eventually come under Persian control and all the
subsequent culture and accomplishments of the Greeks would not have taken the form they
did
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Great building projects of the latter half of the fifth century motivated by the need to display
Athenian wealth, greatness, and power.
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The Spartans principally responsible for the victory
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The Athenian fleet was probably the most important component of that victory.
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Victory left Athens with the most powerful fleet in the Aegean
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The majority of Greek city-states, turned to Athens and the Athenian fleet to protect them against a
possible Persian return
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Formation of the Delian League makes Athens the major power of the Greek city-states.
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Make Athens the cultural center of the Greek world, BUT…
o … Also spell their downfall as the Spartans grew increasingly frightened of Athenian
power and suspicious of its intentions.
Other tidbits
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Greeks at Marathon led by a former Persian soldier, Miltiades, who knew Persian tactics
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After Marathon, many Athenians thought the Persian threat gone
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The Greek politician, Themistocles, convinced the Athenians otherwise.
o So while Persia delayed through the 480's, Themistocles and the Athenians began a navybuilding project of epic proportions.
o Themistocles convinced the Athenians to invest the profits from a newly discovered
silver mine into this project; by 481 BC, Athens had a navy of two hundred ships.
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When the Persians returned, only thirty-one of several hundred city-states decided to resist the
Persian army; these states were led by Sparta, Corinth, and Athens: the Greek League. Sparta was
made leader of all land and sea operations

Battle of Plataea - One Persian general, Mardonius, remained after the Persian defeat at Salamis. He
was met in 479 BC by the largest Greek army history had ever known. Under the leadership of the
Spartan king, Pausanias
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Mardonius (Darius’ son-in-law) was killed in the battle of Plataea, and his army retreated back to
Persia
Marathon – How was it Won?
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Usual tactic of the Persian army was for the archers to shoot volleys of arrows to weaken and
disorganize their enemy
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Their excellent cavalry then moved in to deliver the deciding blow.
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On the other Athenian side, the hoplon, the heavy shield of the hoplites (which gave them their
name) was capable of protecting the man who was carrying it (or more usually the man on his
left) from both the arrows and the spears of its enemies.
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The Persians were at a severe disadvantage due to the size of their weapons.
o Hoplites carried much longer spears than their Persian enemies, extending their reach as well
as protecting them