5th Century Places

  • Egypt – Conquered by Cambyses II, later revolted against Persia.

  • Susa – One of the Persian Empire’s capital cities, administrative center.

  • Thessaly – Initially sided with Persia but later aided the Greek resistance.

  • Thrace – Controlled by Persia during Xerxes' invasion.

  • Hellespont – Xerxes built a bridge across it to invade Greece.

  • Medes – Ancient people, absorbed into the Persian Empire.

  • Sparta – Dominant military city-state, led resistance at Thermopylae and Plataea.

  • Athens – Naval powerhouse, evacuated before Salamis, later led Delian League.

  • Macedonia – Initially submitted to Persia, but later fought alongside the Greeks.

  • Miletus – Led the Ionian Revolt (499–493 BCE), later destroyed by Persia.

  • Ionia – Greek city-states in Asia Minor, subject to Persian rule before revolting.

  • Bosporus – Strategic waterway, controlled by Persia.

  • Danube – Darius crossed it in his campaign against the Scythians.

  • Lacedaemonia – Another name for Sparta.

  • Peneus – River in Thessaly, key location during Persian advance.

  • Thebes – Initially sided with Persia, later faced Greek punishment.

  • Delphi – Home of the Oracle of Apollo, provided key prophecies.

  • Syracuse – Powerful Greek city in Sicily, ruled by Gelo.

  • Sicily – Potential second front in the Persian Wars; Gelo refused to help.

  • Crete – Remained neutral during the Persian invasion.

  • Peloponnesus – Region controlled by Sparta, key in Greek resistance.

  • Argos – Neutral during the Persian Wars, suspected of Persian sympathies.

  • Carthage – Fought the Greeks in Sicily, keeping Syracuse occupied.

  • Attica – Region of Athens, sacked by Xerxes before Salamis.

  • Megara – Contributed naval forces at Salamis.

  • Euboea – Burned by the Persians, site of Artemisium naval battle.

  • Aegina – Naval power, fought alongside Athens at Salamis.

  • Eleusis – Site of the Eleusinian Mysteries, religious significance.

  • Isthmus – The Greeks planned to defend Corinth’s Isthmus, but Salamis made this unnecessary.

  • Delos – Sacred island, left untouched by Persia.

  • Ephesus – Greek city in Ionia, under Persian rule.

  • Laurium – Athenian silver mines, funded the navy that won at Salamis.

  • Thespiae – Fought at Thermopylae, later sacked by Persia.