Persian Wars Summary

Essential Understandings

• Greeks defeated Persian Empire, ensuring political independence.

Causes of the Persian Wars

• Greeks colonized Anatolia (Asia Minor).

• Persian Empire occupied this region, taking Jania in 519 B.C.

• Ionian revolt against Persia in 499 B.C.; Athens aided but couldn't defeat the Persian army.

• Persian king Darius sought revenge, initiating the Persian Wars.

Major Battles

Battle of Marathon (September 490 B.C.)

• Darius sought revenge for Ionian rebellion.

• Athens and Sparta cooperated; Athenians emerged victorious using the Phalanx strategy.

• Persians withdrew for 110 years.

Greek Hoplites and the Phalanx

• Hoplites: heavily armed infantry with shields, swords, and spears.

• Phalanx: close formation creating a wall of shields, highly disciplined and effective.

Fun Fact: Pheidippides

• Fastest runner sent to announce victory, ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens, dying from exhaustion — reason marathons are 26.2 miles today.

Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.)

• Xerxes, son of Darius, sought revenge with a massive force (200,000 soldiers, 1,000 ships).

• Greek strategy was to stall the Persian army at a narrow pass.

• Spartans held off the Persians for 3 days; a traitor revealed a passage, leading to Greek retreat except for 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas, who fought to the death.

• Athens was burned after internment; Persians suffered many casualties.

Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.)

• Athens relocated to Salamis after their city's destruction.

• Athenian navy defeated over 800 Persian ships with faster ships.

• Resulted in Greek control of the Aegean Sea.

Importance/Effects of the Persian Wars

• War united Athens and Sparta against the Persian Empire.

• Victories at Marathon and Salamis secured Greek control of the Aegean.

• Alliances formed for protection: Athens led the Delian League, while Sparta led the Peloponnesian League.

• Continued innovations in government and culture arose in Athens.