Download Persian War Expert Notes

Persian War Expert
Notes
Event A -- Expansion of Persia
Event Details -- In 513 BCE King Darius of Persia invades Greek city-states on
Asia Minor to expand his empire, due to his desire for more land and
economic power.
Outcome/Why? -- Persian army was very large and well-trained, they
overwhelmed opponents with sheer numbers. Also had highly trained cavalry.
Persian Empire was very organized and wealthy. Darius let conquered
peoples keep language & culture in exchange for taxes/service.
Effect -- Sets the stage for conflict between Greece and Persia over control of
Ionia/Asia Minor
Event B -- Ionian Revolt
Event Details -- In 546 BCE, Darius (Persians) conquered Ionia, a region of
Greek city-states on Asia Minor. In 499 BCE Ionians rebel against Persian
control/paying taxes to Darius.
Outcome/Why -- Ionia asks for assistance from Greek city-states on the
mainland to fight against Darius. Sparta refuses, Athens helps. After five
years of conflict, the Persians win due to massive numbers and being close to
more reserve troops.
Effect -- King Darius puts down the rebellion, and now wants revenge against
Athens. He begins planning to invade mainland Greece.
Event C -- Battle of Marathon
Event Details -- in 490 BCE, Persians (King Darius, 200 ships & 20,000
soldiers), Greeks (9,000 Athenian soldiers, Sparta again doesn’t help), fight at
Marathon. Darius is attempting to invade mainland Greece and attack
Athens. Miltiades heads to Marathon to cut the Persians off.
Outcome/Why? -- Greeks won because the Persians split up their forces,
loaded calvary back up on ships to sail to Athens, Greek forces then attacked
the Persian infantry that was left behind. Persians lost 6,400 soldiers while
the Greeks only lost 192.
Effect -- Victory boosts Greek confidence. Pheidippides (Marathon runner)
runs to Athens to warn that the Persian navy/cavalry are coming.
Event D -- Battle of Thermopylae
Event Details -- In 480 BCE, Persians (King Xerxes (Darius’ son) 250,000
soldiers and 600 ships), Greeks--Athens and Sparta (King Leonidas) fight at
Thermopylae (100 miles NW of Athens). Persians want to attack Athens,
Spartans cut them off to prevent them from getting there. Xerxes wanted to
conquer Greece because Darius wasn’t able to, cement his name in history
Outcome/Why? -- Persians march across the 33 mile wide Hellespont in a feat
of engineering to march across to Greece, Spartans are able to hold them off
(Last Stand of the 300) by blocking the narrow mountain pass, Persians
eventually win when Spartans are double-crossed.
Effect -- Persians are able to advance towards Athens, Greek resolve to
fight is strengthened.
Event E -- Battle of Salamis
Event Details -- In 479 BCE, the Persians sail to attack the Athenians who
have fled their city. The battle takes place around Salamis, an island near
Athens. Xerxes wanted to defeat the Greeks (led by Themistocles) before
they had a chance to sail to Peloponnesus
Outcome/Why? -- Themistocles tricks Xerxes into believing he’s willing to
switch sides, Greeks trap large Persian ships in narrow channels around the
island where the Persian ships can’t turn/maneuver easily, more agile Greek
ships easily defeat the Persians (Persians lose 200 ships, Greeks lose 40).
Effect -- Main Persian force retreats, over the next year Greeks drive the
Persians completely from Asia Minor.
Overall Effects of the Persian Wars:
● Introduction of a new military method known as
the Greek phalanx.
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Phalanx-rectangular military formation composed of heavy infantry,
armed with heavy spears and spikes.
● The creation of the Delian League
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alliance of Greek city-states, led by Athens, to protect Greece from
foreign attacks in the future.
Members donated $ to pay for navy to protect Greece city-states.
● Greek culture continued to thrive and spread
throughout the world.
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If Persia would have won, the history of Ancient Greece and the
world wouldn’t be what it is today.