CHW 3M
Persians took control of Greek
colonies in Ionia (Turkey).
• important naval bases
• cities were prosperous
• New Satraps were unpopular
Ionian revolt (499-493 BC)
• Ionians backed by Athens and Eretria
• Greek destroy Persian city of Sardis
Revolt collapsed when
Athenians and Eretria withdrew
support. Made Persian resolve
for conquering Greece stronger
Miracle of Marathon (1st Persian Invasion 490 BC)
Set on revenge the Persian crushed Eretria and proceeded to
Athens. They landed on the beaches of Marathon
• 10, 000 Athenians Vs. 25, 000 Persians
• Spartans refused to come (religious reasons?)
Athenian general,
Miltiades, learns that
dreaded Persian cavalry was
not present for time being
• time to act now
Miltiades divided his
men into three parts,
the center, the left wing,
and the right wing. The
center group pretended
to fall back, and the
Persian army ran after
them. Then the two
Greek wings rushed in
and attacked the
Persians from the sides.
• 6400 Persian Causalities, 192 Greek Causalities
• Persian fled to ships looking to attack undefended Athens
The Athenians ran 25 miles back to Athens in order to beat the
Persian (12-14h to sail). When the Persians saw the Athenian
army waiting for them inside the city walls they gave up and
sailed back home to Persia territory.
1. The victory gave the Greeks
incredible confidence in
themselves, their government
and their culture
2. Strengthened other Greek CityStates resolve (Sparta) to resist
Persian rule
Phidippides
Famous Athenian runner Phidippides
1. Ran from Athens to Sparta and back to ask for help in 36 hours (280 miles)
2. Ran to Marathon (26 miles)
3. Fought
4. Ran back to Athens (26 miles) to tell of victory. (in approximately 3 hours)
Tired from exhaustion
Phidippides collapsed and
died a short time later
censored
Ten Years Grace
Themistocles was the most prominent
politician in Athens after the first
Persian invasion. He continued to
advocate a strong Athenian navy, and
in 483 BC he persuaded the Athenians
to build a fleet of 200 triremes; these
would prove crucial in the
forthcoming conflict with Persia.
Battle of Thermopylae (2nd Persian Invasion 480 BC)
King Xerxes decided that he would invade Greece by land
• 200000 men, 600 warships
• made Pontoon Bridge to cross Hellespont
• first encounter with Greeks at Thermopylae, narrow mountain
pass
Small Group of Greek including Athenians and Spartans set up
barricades At Thermopylae. Several days The Massive Persian
army could not get through barricade. After a few days, a Greek
traitor led the Persians through a mountain pass where a few
They secretly came around this back way and surrounded the
Greeks.
A group of three hundred Spartan soldiers, along with some
others, agreed to stay at Thermopylae and fight the Persians even
though they were surrounded. They would fight as long as they
could sacrificing themselves to give the others time to get away.
Battle of Salamis
Knowing they could now not defend their city the Athenians, under their general
Themistocles, deliberately left Athens undefended and lured the Persian fleet into a
narrow strip of water between the island of Salamis and the Greek main land.
The Persian would burn Athens but the Athenian
warships caught the Persian ships be surprise.
Trapped in the narrow water the Persian ships
were destroyed. Xerxes and army would then
retreat to Hellespont
The Invasion Ends(479 BC)
Greeks amass army of 40,000 and defeated 60,000 Persian at Mycale, off the coast of
Asia minor. The remaining Persian fleet was completely destroyed.
Greeks amass army of 40,000 and defeated 60,000 Persian at Mycale, off the coast of
Asia minor. The remaining Persian fleet was completely destroyed.