Greece (Persian War) 

Greece (Persian War) 

Sourcing 

• Herodotus: Wrote most of what we know about Persian War, Greek Historian, “Father of History”

Who’s Who

• Greek City States: All city states worked together

VS

• Persian Empire: Darius |: King at the start, Xerxes: King at the end

Persian war timeline

Ionian Revolt

• Athens helped Ionian revolt against Persia

• Persians want revenge against Athens

Battle of Marathon

• Where: Marathon

• Sparta doesn't help

• Persians don't care

• “Winner”: Athens

After Marathon

• Darius dies

• Xerxes takes over

• Athens builds a navy

• Sparta officially joins the fight

Battle of Thermopylae 

• Where: Pass at Thermopylae 

• Spartans held off Persians while Athen citizens evacuated 

• Phalanx: Battle formation 

• Winner: Persians 

After Thermopylae 

• Athens burns, but people survive

• Persian revenge is accomplished

Battle of Salamis 

• Where: Salamis Channel 

• Terrain helps the Greeks

• Winner: Greeks

After Salamis

• Xerxes goes home

• Persia offers peace

• Greeks fight on- Together

Battle of Plataea 

• Persians attack the Greeks

• Greeks defeat the Persians 

• War ends