Download The Persian Wars The Persian Wars

The Persian Wars
The Persian Wars
The Persian Wars were a series of wars fought between the Persians and
the Greeks from 492 BC to 449 BC.
The Persian Wars were a series of wars fought between the Persians and
the Greeks from 492 BC to 449 BC.
Who were the Persians? The Persian Empire (Achaemenid Empire) was the
largest and most powerful empire in the world at the time of the Persian
Wars. They controlled land that stretched from Egypt all the way to India.
Who were the Persians? The Persian Empire (Achaemenid Empire) was the
largest and most powerful empire in the world at the time of the Persian
Wars. They controlled land that stretched from Egypt all the way to India.
Who were the Greeks? The Greeks were made up of a number of citystates such as Sparta and Athens. Typically these city-states fought each
other, but they united to fight against the Persians.
Who were the Greeks? The Greeks were made up of a number of citystates such as Sparta and Athens. Typically these city-states fought each
other, but they united to fight against the Persians.
Who were the Ionians? The Ionians were Greeks that lived along the coast
of Turkey. They were conquered by the Persians. When the Ionians decided
to revolt they asked Athens and other Greek cities for help. The other Greek
cities sent ships and weapons, but were quickly defeated. The Persians
didn't like this and decided to conquer the rest of the Greek cities in order
to keep them under control.
Who were the Ionians? The Ionians were Greeks that lived along the coast
of Turkey. They were conquered by the Persians. When the Ionians decided
to revolt they asked Athens and other Greek cities for help. The other Greek
cities sent ships and weapons, but were quickly defeated. The Persians
didn't like this and decided to conquer the rest of the Greek cities in order
to keep them under control.
First Invasion of Greece & Battle of Marathon
First Invasion of Greece & Battle of Marathon
Darius I, King of Persia, decided he wanted to conquer the Greeks in 490 BC.
He gathered a vast army of soldiers that outnumbered any army the Greeks
could muster. The Persians had about 25,000 troops, and the Greeks only
had 10,000. They boarded the Persian fleet and headed to Greece.
Darius I, King of Persia, decided he wanted to conquer the Greeks in 490 BC.
He gathered a vast army of soldiers that outnumbered any army the Greeks
could muster. The Persians had about 25,000 troops, and the Greeks only
had 10,000. They boarded the Persian fleet and headed to Greece.
The Persian fleet landed at the Bay of Marathon, about 25 miles from the
city of Athens. The Persians had a lot more soldiers, but they
underestimated the fighting capability of the Greeks. The army of Athens
routed the Persian army killing around 6,000 Persians and only losing 192
Greek (according to a famous ancient Greek historian).
The Persian fleet landed at the Bay of Marathon, about 25 miles from the
city of Athens. The Persians had a lot more soldiers, but they
underestimated the fighting capability of the Greeks. The army of Athens
routed the Persian army killing around 6,000 Persians and only losing 192
Greek (according to a famous ancient Greek historian).
After they defeated the Persians on land, the Athenian army ran the 25
miles back to Athens to protect the city of Athens from the Persian ships
about to attack. This is the origin of the Marathon running race.
After they defeated the Persians on land, the Athenian army ran the 25
miles back to Athens to protect the city of Athens from the Persian ships
about to attack. This is the origin of the Marathon running race.
Second Invasion of Greece & Battle of Thermopylae
Second Invasion of Greece & Battle of Thermopylae
Ten years later, in 480 BC, the son of Darius I, King Xerxes (pronounced
“zerk-sees”), decided to get his revenge on the Greeks. He amassed a huge
army of over 200,000 soldiers and 1,000 warships.
Ten years later, in 480 BC, the son of Darius I, King Xerxes (pronounced
“zerk-sees”), decided to get his revenge on the Greeks. He amassed a huge
army of over 200,000 soldiers and 1,000 warships.
The Greeks put together a small force, led by the Spartan King Leonidas I
and 300 Spartans. They decided to meet the Persians at a narrow pass in the
mountains called Thermopylae. The Greeks held off the Persians killing
thousands, until a Greek traitor decided to help the Persians hoping to be
rewarded, and told them of a secret way around the mountains. They took
it and got behind the Greeks. King Leonidas told most of his troops to flee,
but stayed behind with a small force including his 300 Spartans in order to
allow the rest of the Greek army to escape. The Spartans fought to the
death, killing as many Persians as they could. All 300 were killed, and the
movie 300 is based on this battle.
The Greeks put together a small force, led by the Spartan King Leonidas I
and 300 Spartans. They decided to meet the Persians at a narrow pass in the
mountains called Thermopylae. The Greeks held off the Persians killing
thousands, until a Greek traitor decided to help the Persians hoping to be
rewarded, and told them of a secret way around the mountains. They took
it and got behind the Greeks. King Leonidas told most of his troops to flee,
but stayed behind with a small force including his 300 Spartans in order to
allow the rest of the Greek army to escape. The Spartans fought to the
death, killing as many Persians as they could. All 300 were killed, and the
movie 300 is based on this battle.
Battle of Salamis
Battle of Salamis
Meanwhile, the people of Athens consulted the Oracle at Delphi for advice
on how to defeat the Persians. The Oracle told them that they would find
safety behind a wooden wall. Most of the Athenians interpreted this to
mean the wooden hulls of their ships, and left the city and boarded their
army's ships. Some believed this was a literal wood wall, and stayed behind
up above the city on the acropolis, and built a wooden wall to protect
themselves. The Persian army continued to march on Greece. When they
arrived at the city of Athens, they found it deserted except for the people
up on the acropolis. THey burned the wooden wall down, killed the people
that were hiding there, and destroyed many of the buildings of Athens. The
Athenian fleet, however, was waiting off the coast by the island of Salamis.
Meanwhile, the people of Athens consulted the Oracle at Delphi for advice
on how to defeat the Persians. The Oracle told them that they would find
safety behind a wooden wall. Most of the Athenians interpreted this to
mean the wooden hulls of their ships, and left the city and boarded their
army's ships. Some believed this was a literal wood wall, and stayed behind
up above the city on the acropolis, and built a wooden wall to protect
themselves. The Persian army continued to march on Greece. When they
arrived at the city of Athens, they found it deserted except for the people
up on the acropolis. THey burned the wooden wall down, killed the people
that were hiding there, and destroyed many of the buildings of Athens. The
Athenian fleet, however, was waiting off the coast by the island of Salamis.
The much larger Persian fleet attacked the small Athenian ships. They were
sure of victory. However, the Athenian ships, called triremes, were fast and
maneuverable. They rammed into the sides of the large Persian ships and
sunk them. They soundly defeated the Persians causing Xerxes to retreat
back to Persia.
The much larger Persian fleet attacked the small Athenian ships. They were
sure of victory. However, the Athenian ships, called triremes, were fast and
maneuverable. They rammed into the sides of the large Persian ships and
sunk them. They soundly defeated the Persians causing Xerxes to retreat
back to Persia.