Part 4 Notes: The Greek and Persian Wars
The Persian Wars were a series of wars fought between the Persians and the Greeks from 492 BC to 449
BC.
How did the Greek and Persian Wars begin?
The Persian Empire was the largest and most powerful empire in the world at the time of the Persian
Wars. They controlled land that stretched from Egypt all the way to India.
The Ionians were Greeks that lived along the coast of Turkey. They were conquered by the Persians.
When the Ionians decided to revolt they asked Athens and other Greek cities for help. This is known at
the Ionian Revolt, which began in 499 BC. The other Greek cities sent ships and weapons, and burned
the Persian city, Sardis, in the process. The Greek revolt was crushed by Darius I (Persian leader) but he
did not forgive easily. He will want revenge on Athens for the burning of Sardis.
Darius I, King of Persia, invaded Greece in 490 BC. He gathered a vast army of soldiers that outnumbered
any army the Greeks could muster. They boarded the Persian fleet and headed to Greece.
Battle of Marathon
The Persian fleet landed at the Bay of Marathon in 490 BC, about 25 miles from the city of Athens. The
Persians had a lot more soldiers, but they underestimated the fighting capability of the Greeks. The
army of Athens routed the Persian army killing around 6,200 Persians and only losing 192 Greeks. This
was the first battle of the Greek and Persian Wars & a victory for the Greeks.
After the Battle of Marathon, an Athenian messenger ran the 26.2 miles back to Athens to relay the
events that just took place. This is the origin of the term marathon—running a race. The messengers
name was Pheidippides; viewed in history as the first “marathon runner”.
Battle of Thermopylae
Ten years later, in 480 BC, the son of Darius I, King Xerxes, decided to take revenge on the Greeks. He
amassed a huge army of over 300,000 soldiers and 1,000 warships.
The Greeks put together a small force, led by the Spartan King Leonidas I and 300 Spartans. They
decided to meet the Persians at a narrow pass in the mountains called Thermopylae. The Greeks held off
the Persians killing thousands, until the Persians found a way around the mountains and got behind the
Greeks. King Leonidas told most of his troops to flee, but stayed behind with a small force including his
300 Spartans in order to allow the rest of the Greek army to escape. The Spartans fought to the death,
killing as many Persians as they could. Thermopylae was the 2nd major battle of the Persian Wars and a
victory for the Persians even though they suffered heavy losses.
Battle of Salamis
The Persian army continued to march on Greece. When they arrived at the city of Athens, they found it
deserted. The people of Athens had evacuated under the orders of Themistocles. The Athenian fleet,
however, was waiting off the coast by the island of Salamis.
The much larger Persian fleet attacked the small Athenian ships. This is known as the Battle of Salamis,
in September 480 BC, and became the turning point in the war for the Greeks.
The Athenian ships, called triremes, were fast, lightweight and maneuverable. They rammed into the
sides of the large Persian ships and sunk them. The Greeks soundly defeated the Persians causing Xerxes
to retreat back to Persia.
Battle of Plateau
The Greek (almost all city-states were represented) fought the Persian army that remained in Greece, at
the final battle on Greek soil of the Persian Wars, the Battle of Plataea, in August of 479 B.C.
Xerxes and his fleet had returned to Persia, but Persian troops remained in Greece, under Mardonius.
They stationed themselves for battle in a place suitable for their horsemen -- the plain. Under the
Spartan leader Pausanias, the Greeks stationed themselves advantageously in the foothills of Mt.
Cithaeron.
Eventually, Pausanias took his troops down into the plains where they were still separated from the
Persians, but only by a row of hills. Meanwhile, the Persians poisoned the Greek water supply and
Pausanias tried to move his troops to another water supply, so he sent the less experienced troops first.
The result of his dividing the Greek forces was that the Persians thought the Greeks had divided due to
internal differences/ conflict. When Mardonius, now with added confidence, attacked, the various Greek
groups rushed in to help each other and ultimately defeat the Persians.
Results of the Greek and Persian Wars
1. Victory increased their sense of uniqueness
2. Felt the gods had protected them
3. Athens emerges as the largest and strongest city-state
4. Delian League: Athens formed an alliance with other city-states after the war in which Athens
dominated (Sparta not included in the league).
5. Years after the Persian Wars were a “golden age” for Athens due to the rebuilding and resurgence of
art, creativity, etc.
6. Pericles: Athenenian leader during this period, the yrs from 460-429 BC is known as the “Age of
Pericles”. Athens was rebuilt & and the Parthenon built; however this time period doesn’t last long.
Part 5 Notes: Peloponnesian War
Greek v. Greek
Development of an Athenian Empire
The Battle of Plataea ended the possible invasion of the Persians, but for a little while longer the
Persians were a possible threat.
Athens formed the Delian League for Greece’s protection--Sparta was not invited to join. Athens slowly
but surely gained more Greek territory to ensure safety against Persia.
As time passed, Persia was no longer a threat and the league turned into an Athenian Empire
Peloponnesian War
Sparta grew very suspicious of Athens & their goals regarding the Delian League. Sparta created their
own league: Peloponnesian League. The two city states were very different & had been long time
enemies; temporarily united by a common enemy. Once that enemy was gone, Sparta began viewing
Athens as an aggressor because of the taking of so much land.
In 431 b.c., war broke out between Athens & Sparta. This is called the Peloponnesian War, lasted
until 404 b.c., over 25 years.
Course of the War
The 1st year of war: Athenian civilians (farmers, etc) hid behind their city walls, Pericles knew the
Spartans could beat them. They used their ships—same ones from the Persian Wars—for supplies
because they knew Sparta had no ships. They were hoping to cut off Spartan supplies and starve them.
The 2nd year of war: disease killed many inside the walls of Athens. Even Pericles died of disease
The battles went on for another 25 yrs.
End of the War
Spartans became desperate to win, struck a deal with the Persians. They gave land to Persia for enough
money to build a navy. The Spartans & their new navy destroyed the Athenian fleet.
The next year, Athens surrendered. Spartans destroyed the walls around Athens.
Results of the Peloponnesian War
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Weakened all Greek city-states, the winners & the losers
Farms had been neglected or destroyed, caused severe food shortages
High death toll on both sides
Few jobs, high unemployment
The war made it impossible for the Greeks to unite & ever work together again
Sparta tried to rule all of Greece; w/in 30 yrs, the city-states rebelled. During this time of internal
conflict, they ignored their increasingly powerful neighbor to the north:
the Kingdom of Macedonia.
The Ignored Threat: Macedonia
Many important politicians try to warn Greece of the growing threat of Phillip II of Macedonia; no one
listened. When they finally realized how serious the threat was it was too late. Phillip the II began taking
over Greek city-states and eventually all of Greece before his death. His very famous son would conquer
the Persians and create a massive empire himself stretching from Greece to India.
Part 6 Notes: Alexander the Great
The Macedonians
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Located north of Greece
Admired Greek art, architecture & way of life
Some Macedonians were educated by Greek philosophers
The Greeks looked down on their northern neighbors; thought they weren’t good enough and
not a threat
The Macedonians grew in power; some Greeks warned city-states that they were becoming a
threat
It was too late, the Macedonians slowly took city-state by city-state
The Greeks were too weak & internally divided to united against the Macedonians
Why did the Macedonians want Greece?
Phillip II
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Phillip II was king & admired the Greeks
Had lived there in his youth
His goals were to conquer Greece & eventually Persia
When invaded many Greek city-states surrendered w/o even fighting (allied with Macedonia)
except Athens which allied with Thebes & were crushed in the Battle of Chaeronea
Alexander the Great
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Before Phillip II could carry out his plan to conquer the Persians, he was murdered at his
daughters wedding feast
His son, Alexander the Great, took his place & carried out his fathers plan. He was 20 yrs old.
Alexander had been trained since a child to fight & be a leader
In history, he is seen as being one of the greatest leaders of all time
Alexander’s Conquering
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Alexander took control of Greece, Middle East, Egypt and even as far as present day Pakistan
In Egypt, he created the city Alexandria.
After many battles, Alexander returned to Babylon to plan yet another invasion further south in
present day Saudi Arabia, 323 b.c.
He was battle torn (many wounds) and died of a fever. He was 32 yrs old
His empire was divided among 3 generals: for the next 300 years the descendents of these
generals would compete for the land conquered by Alexander
Even though he conquered much land very quickly, it is the cultural changes that took place
because of his actions that is important
The Legacy of Alexander the Great
1. Founded many new cities, many names after him (ex: Alexandria)
2. Many Greeks & Macedonians moved to the newly conquered lands
3. As Greeks moved, they brought their culture with them. Temples, statues, athletic events are a few
examples.
4. Local peoples absorbed Greek culture into their own and vice versa
5. Alexander married a Persian woman & encouraged others to do the same
The spread & blending of Greek culture is known as the Hellenistic Era (its means “like the Greeks”)
6. This blending of Greek, Indian, Persian & Egyptian culture occurred over time & lasted for centuries
City of Alexandria
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The city of Alexandria, located in Egypt, was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.
Became a center for learning & trade; was the center of the Hellenistic world
The Lighthouse (Pharos) in Alexandria is one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
Also had the largest library in the ancient world; known as the “Museum” had a zoo,
laboratories, etc. It was destroyed in a fire at a later time
The Hellenistic Era
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The era meaning “like the Greeks” comes to an end between 146 B.C. & 30 B.C
This era is seen as the transition period between the rise of Rome and the fall of Greece
By this time, the Greeks had made their greatest contributions that are still studied/used in
present day
Their achievements are remarkable considering they were produced by small scattered citystates with a constant state of rivalry between them
Greek culture and political ideas have been greatly influential on the Western world—their
influence is still present today.
However, when the Greeks began to decline, a new power—who was also greatly influenced by
the Greeks—was rising further west: Rome.
The Hellenistic Era is known in history as the time where Greek culture was spread throughout
all areas Alexander conquered. It is also the time period where Greece falls from power--never
to return to its previous glory--and the Rise of Rome begins.