The Persian Wars
499BC -- 479BC
World Map
Map of Area
Persian Empire
Athens
Sparta
The Ionian Revolt
people of Ionia revolt
again Persians
Athens sends help
to Ionians
Ionia
revolt is settled,
Athens loses
interest
Darius Targets Athens
• With internal matters settled, the ruler of the
Persian Empire investigates the uprising.
• finds that Athens aided Ionia
• vows to conquer all of Greece, starting with
Athens
Darius’ First Attack
sends fleet along
edge of land
meets powerful
storm, most of
the fleet is
destroyed
retreats
Darius’ Second Attack
Darius charges
his fleet directly
up on the shore
Athens requests
help from Sparta
Athens prepares Sparta
its defense
Battle of Marathon
vs.
The Persian Army numbered over 4 times larger
than the Athenian/Plataean army.
The Athenian/Plataean Soldier
• fought mainly with
spears
• heavily armored
• excelled at close
combat
The Persian Soldier
• fought mainly with
bows and arrows,
carried short swords
• lightly armored
• better at ranged
combat
Athenian/Plataean Attack Style
• Phalanx: 8x8 layout
• soldiers in front had
spears and shield
ready, made a wall
• soldiers behind kept
spears at attention
• soldiers in back
replaced fallen ones
in the front
Persian Attack Style
• archers in the front
• captured fighters on
the sides
• cavalry protects
flank
• launched barrage of
arrows from 150-
200 meters
The Fight
• Darius “knew” that the army left Athens
undefended
• broke off cavalry and some captured
soldiers to invade Athens
• Miltiades rearranged army. Weakened
front, strengthened flanks.
• Athenians/Plataeans surrounded Persians
and devastated them. There were 6, 400
reported casualties for the Persians, and 192
casualties for the Athenians.
Pheidippides’ Run
• Athens won the land battle, but the city was now
defenseless.
• They needed to let Athens know of the victory, so
they wouldn’t give up the city to the Persians
• Pheidippides ran the 25 miles from Marathon to
Athens at top speed
• He gasped out “Rejoice, we conquer,” collapsed
and died.
• In 1896, when the Olympics were revived, Greek
officials added the “marathon” in honor of his
heroic run
Aftermath
• attack on Athens scared away, Darius
retreated
• Sparta arrived after fighting was over
• Themistocles ordered the fortification of
ports and the building of a vast navy with
newfound wealth.
• Sparta had a newfound respect for Athens.
• Athenian morale soared
Xerxes’ Attack
Battle of Marathon
did little to weaken
Persia’s power.
Xerxes marched a
new army of
100,000 around Sparta
the Aegean Sea.
Supply Issues
army couldn’t
carry all the
supplies it needed
Supplies were
delivered via the
Persian fleet.
Athenian Preparations
• again asked Sparta for help; There was
dissention among Sparta’s consuls. King
Leonidus agreed to help with his honor
guard of 300 soldiers.
• Athens had its navy prepped and ready.
• Athens searched for a choke point in which
to face the Persians.
Battle of Thermopylae
Leonidus brought his
group of 300 to face
the Persian army at
Thermopylae.
Thermopylae was a
narrow pass between
the mountains.
300 Spartans vs.
100,000 Persians
Showdown With Leonidus
Leonidus blocks the pass
with his 300 soldiers.
Xerxes shows up, can
only fit about 1,000
through at a time
Leonidus is succeeding
Traitor shows Xerxes
a second route around
All of Leonidus’
group is killed.
Battle of Salamis
• With Persians occupied in the Battle of
Thermopylae (lasted 2 days), the Athenian
fleet attacked the Persian fleet near Salamis.
• Though the Persian fleet was bigger, the
Athenian fleet was victorious.
• With the supplies cut off, the Persian army
had to either retreat or attack immediately,
it chose the latter.
Battle of Plataea
• The Persians sacked Athens after the
Athenians retreated.
• Sparta, Athens, and several other city-states
combined to form the largest Greek army in
history up until then.
The Greeks faced off against the
Persians at Plataea and emerged
VICTORIOUS!!!
Result
• Greek city-states have new sense of confidence
and freedom
• Form a 140 city-state alliance called the Delian
League – Athens is leader
• Delian League drove Persians from surrounding
territories – ended their threat forever
• Athens uses powerful navy and wealth to control
other members
• Athens enters a period of time called its “Golden
Age”
Finis