Download The Persian Wars

BELLWORK: 9/12
1.
2.
3.
Explain the advances made in Greek drama.
How did Greek philosophers change the way people
thought?
How did Greek history impact Modern America?
THINKERS: This week we will focus on conflict in Ancient Greece and how it
contributed to two major wars – The Persian Wars (Greek city states vs.
Persia) and the Peloponnesian War (Sparta vs. Athens). In order to
understand WHY these conflicts happened, make a prediction 
4.
5.
Why do you think Greece and Persia were enemies? What
were they fighting over?
What was it so difficult to unify the Greek city states? Why
do you think Sparta and Athens distrusted each other?
Conflict in Ancient Greece
Persian Wars
Peloponnesian War
Review
• Why were Greece and Persia
enemies?
Persian Empire – 539 BC
The Persian Wars
• In 490 BC, Persian forces (led by Darius I) landed near
Athens.
• The outnumbered Greeks staged a surprise attack and
defeated the Persians!
• In 480B.C., the Persians returned to Greece (now led by
Xerxes I)
• 7,000 Greeks (Spartans/Athenians) vs. 100,000 Persians
• Greek navy destroyed the entire Persian fleet.
• The Persians responded with a sneak attack on the
remaining 300 Spartan warriors – Battle of Thermopylae
Persian Wars – Battle of Thermopylae
• Thermopylae ("hot gates") was a
pass the Greeks tried to defend
• Spartan King Leonidas was in
charge of the Greek forces. He
had three goals:
– Restrain & delay the strong Persian
Army
– Keep them from attacking the Greek
navy (under Athenian control Themistocles)
– Block them long enough so they
would be forced to sail back for food,
water & supplies
The Last Stand of the 300
• For the rest of class,
you will be watching a
video on the last stand
of the 300 at the Battle
of Thermopylae.
• Answer the questions
on the worksheet
• Pay attention! This
information will be
included on the unit
test
BELLWORK (9/13)
1. Explain the role of the following men in the Persian Wars:
Darius I, Xerxes I, Leonidas & Themistocles.
2. Why did Sparta and Athens (traditional enemies) decide to
fight together in the Persian Wars?
3. How did the geography of Thermopylae help the Greek
army?
4. Describe the military training of Spartan boys.
5. THINKER: Why would Leonidas, already expecting defeat at
Thermopylae, send his army away but keep his strongest
300 soldiers to fight?
Persian Wars – Battle of Thermopylae
• A Persian-sympathizer & traitor named Ephialtes led the
Persians around the pass showing them where to attack from
behind.
• Expecting defeat, Leonidas sent away most of his troops.
• The remaining 300 Spartan warriors fought the Persians &
blocked the pass long enough so the rest of the Greek army
could escape.
• All 300 warriors were killed - Greece accepted defeat
• After their victory, the Persians marched to Athens and burned
it to the ground (already been evacuated)
• The Greeks would defeat Persia and re-capture Athens a year
later, in 479 B.C.
The Peloponnesian War
• War between Sparta and Athens that lasted
from 431BC to 404BC.
• Sparta allied with the Persians
• A plague struck Athens and killed 1/3 of their
population
• Persian-financed Spartan navy destroyed
Athens fleet.
• Athenians surrendered