The Greco-Persian Wars

King Xerxes

486-465 BCE, son of Darius I Persian king who invaded Greece in retribution for earlier Persian defeats; Forces defeated by the Greeks in the battles of Salamis and Platea

Pheidippides

Fastest runner in Ancient Greece. Ran from Athens to Sparta to ask the Spartans for help against the Persians. Spartans wouldn't help because of a religious festival. He 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to let them know of the Athenian victory. He yelled out "Nike! (VICTORY!)" when he arrived, then collapsed, dead.

Persian Empire

Greatest empire in the world up to 500 BCE. A multi-ethnic and multi-religious empire. Religious Tolerance, central government

Queen Artemisia

Greek queen of a city-state and woman commander of Persian navy; tried to stop Xerxes from fighting at Salamis, he lost!

Ionians

Greeks living in Persia

Battle of Plataea

In 479 B.C. The Spartans and the Athenians unite against the Persians. This is the last battle. Greeks win!

The Battle of Marathon

King Darius sends his army of 20,000 men to Marathon. 10,000 Athenian soldiers charge the Persians. The attack surprised the Persians. The GREEKS WON!

Battle of Thermopylae

King Xerxes (Darius' son) wanted revenge against the Greeks! King Leonidas of Sparta brought 300 warriors to go against the 300,000 Persians (The Greeks were outnumbered 40:1) Persians attack the Spartans from behind and win. PERSIANS WIN

King Leonidas

King of the Spartans Lead 300 Spartans, fought and held the Persians back until he was betrayed by a fellow Greek.

Outcome of the Persian War

The GREEKS win the war! The Golden Age of Athens began! Athens becomes very wealthy and powerful. Persian Empire does NOT expand into Europe

Cause of the Persian War

The Greek colony of Ionia was invaded by the Persians. The Athenians came to help the Ionians, and this angered Darius, King of the Persians! Darius wanted to punish Athens

fleet

a group of ships

Battle of Salamis

battle that destroyed the Persian fleet

invade

enter by force

Miletus

greek city state responsible for starting the persian wars (Ionians)

Cyrus the Great

king of Persia and founder of the Persian empire (circa 600-529 BC)

King Darius

king of Persia who tried to invade Greece but was defeated

Asia Minor

the Turkish peninsula between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, part of the Asian continent ...was Persia