The Persian Wars: A Defining
Moment in Greek History
What is the opposite of
Greek?
What does it take to make the
Greeks unite against a
common enemy?
Tonight’s Class

The Persian Wars, Part I

Movie: Homer’s Odyssey

Persian Wars, Part II
Key Questions for Today’s
Lecture

Who are the Persians?

What are the causes of war?

What key events occur during the war?

Who wins the war and what are the
consequences?
Where Is Persia?
Who Are The Persians?

Absolute Rule of Kings

Poverty vs. Decadence

Excellence vs. Money
The Causes of War

Persians invaded Greece

490 BC (Marathon)

480-479 BC
Battle of Marathon- 490 BCE
Countless Persians vs.
10,000 Athenians
“The magnificent grove of
Marathon can confirm
his bravery – as well
as the long-haired
Persian – who
remembers it well.”
Epitaph of Aeschylus
Where were the
Spartans?
The Consequences of War

History changes as a result of this battle

Athenians = great political confidence

Athenian wealth, greatness + power
reflected in literature + building projects
Athens as a Naval Power

482 BCE

Silver Mines

Aristides’s Plan

Themistocles’s resolve
The Madness of Xerxes

Bridge over the
Hellespont

40,000 hoplites + 366
ships

200,000 + 1000 ships

Ships destroyed
Thermopylae – 480 BCE

Trap the army, destroy
the fleet

300 men, 2 days, one
fight to the death

“Go tell them in
Sparta, stranger, that
we lie here obedient to
their orders.”
Simonides
Leonidas - Hero Of the Battle
If Fox News Had Been There!
Salamis – 480 BCE

Themistocles’s Brilliant
Plan

Greek Fleet vs.
Persian Fleet

Persia loses the battle
479 Battle of Plataea

Spartans win

But Athens still has naval superiority

Greeks win war, but lose internal unity
Sparta vs. Athens

Sparta won the deciding battle but . . .

Athens had the navy

478 - Delian League

One vote each = democratic alliance
Why Is This A Defining
Moment in Greek History?
Athens - cultural center of the Greek
World . . . with the common enemy
vanquished, Greeks will fight amongst
themselves.
Coming Next Week . . .

ATHENIAN LEADERSHIP

WOULD THE ATHENIANS HAVE
ELECTED ARNOLD?