Greece and Persia

Persia’s Background• Started off as a group of unorganized,

nomadic people.• Grew into a large empire thanks to

Cyrus the Great.– Cyrus did not mistreat those he

conquered, earned him respect.• Later ruled by Darius I claimed

power and expanded the empire even further.

The Persians Fight Greece• 499 BC, several cities in the Persian

Empire rebelled.– Greek city-states send troops to assist.– Persians ended the rebellion but were

angry with Greece for getting involved.– Darius I swears that he will get revenge.

Why did the Persians invade Greece?

Help!We’re on the way!

AGH!Those Greeks will pay for this!!

The Battle of Marathon• 9 yrs. Later– Darius I invaded Greece in Athens (near

Athens).– Invasion started the Persian Wars

series of wars between Persia and Greece.• Athens – 11,000 soldiers• Persia – 15,000 soldiers

– Greeks win clever leaders.

The Battle of Marathon (Legend)• The Greeks sent their fastest runner

to carry home news of the victory to Athens.

• He sprinted 26.2 miles.• He arrived and said, “Rejoice, we

conquer,” and died from exhaustion• The Marathon race is named after this

event.

The Second Invasion of Greece• 10 yrs. later Xerxes I tried to

conquer Greece.–Persian army and navy head for

Greece.–Sparta (another city-state) joined

the fight between Athens & Persia.

Thermopylae: The Last Stand• A Small Spartan force of about 300 men

commanded by King Leonidas, guarded the mountain pass of Thermopylae.

• They held out heroically against the enormous Persian force for three days.

• They were betrayed when someone told the Persians how to get in behind the army.

• They were defeated, but won valuable time for the rest of the Greeks.

Who won at Salamis?

Salamis

The Persians marched south after their victory at Thermopylae and destroyed the city of Athens.

Athens

ThermopylaeThe Athenians had already moved to Salamis, a small nearby island.

The large Persian ships could not maneuver in the water. The smaller Greek ships destroyed them.

More than 800 Persian ships attacked the Athenian navy near the island.

Results of the Persian Wars

• The Greek sense of uniqueness was increased.

• Athens emerged as the most powerful city-state in Greece.

• Athens organized an alliance with other Greek city-states.• Athens asserted power and built an

Athenian Empire.• Moved the treasury to Athens.