Chapter 4-3 Notes: Persia
attacks Greece
I. The Persian empire- originated from warriors from
Persia- southwest Iran. The empire covered
Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, and
Phoenician cities.
A. Cyrus the Great-United Persia
B. Darius- reorganized the government into districts
1. satrapies- districts of Persia.
2. satrap- or “protector of the kingdom”; acted like
a governor of the district
C. Immortals- full-time soldiers; Darius power
depended on his army.
D. Zoroastrianism- religion of Persia
1.) Founded by : Zoroaster
2.) Beliefs: a.) one god; b.) freedom of the human will;
c.) the triumph of good
The Persian Wars
A. King Darius tried to stop the Greeks b/c of rebellions
B. The Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.- Greece won; runner
ran 26 miles to proclaim victory over the Persians
C. Xerxes- son of Darius, vowed a new invasion
1.Invaded Greece- a.) revenge, b.) glory, & c.) greater land
increase.
D. Athens & Sparta joined forces to defend against Xerxes.
E. Battle of Thermopylae (300)- King Leonidas and 300
Spartans defended against around 300,000 Persians.
(Spartans)They lost.
F. Battle of Salamis- place where the Greek fleet attacked
the Persian fleet was the strait of Salamis.
1.) Themistocles- Athenian general
Continued Persian Wars
G. Persian army defeated at Plataea.
H. Causes of Persian defeat:
1. weakened by wars
2.heavy taxes of Persians
3. weak rulers
I. Persia fell to Alexander the Great in 334 B.C.
J. History of the Persian Wars- Herodotus