By: Jacob Wirick

ANCIENT PERSIA & MILITARY TACTICS

ANCIENT PERSIA

The Persian empire was located in what we now refer to as “The Middle East.” The Middle East is located in

Southwest Asia. The Persians were known for there massive empire and warfare. This area has been a battle

ground for thousands of years and it still is today. The strong leadership, warriors, and military tactics used is

what made the Persian Empire last in time of high conflict and warfare.

In the ancient world, armies were made of young men often in there early teens. Some empires even had 12 year olds in there armies. Some important people in ancient Persia

include, Cyrus I, Cyrus The Great, Darius I, and Cambyses. The emperors of Persia were the ones in charge of the

military and making the military commands.

MILITARY PERSONAL

The ancient Persians wore a bronze helmet with a rounded top. They used traditional swords much like the other

empires of the time period. Weapons were not anything like they are now back then, with no superior weapons or equipment, tactics and training were what determined the

outcomes of war in the ancient world.

WEAPONS

One of the Military tactics used by the Persians was the “ambush.” An ambush is when you attack a person or

group from all sides completely surrounding them giving them no chance of escape. The Persians used the ambush against the Spartans successfully wiping out their entire army. This techniques starts by facing them head on and then have reinforcements charging in from all sides. With people attacking from every direction and more times than

not being outnumbered, the chances of escaping an ambush are slim to none.

TACTICS

One of the most famous war involving the Persians was The Persian War. This war started because of the Ionian

Rebellion in 499 BC when Persian tyrants were overthrown in Ionia. The Persians asked Sparta for help but gained

help from Athens instead. Athens withdrew, Persia gradually regained what was lost. By 494 BC Persians

wiped out Miletus and ended the Ionian Rebellion.

PERSIAN WAR

In 490 BC Darius sent an expedition to punish Athens for their withdrawal. After Darius died, Xerxes took over and launched another expedition with over 600 ships going up against 31 Greek states led by Sparta. The end result of the war was a Greek victory after winning the Battles of

Boeotia, Salamis, and Mycale.

PERSIAN WAR CONTINUED

It is important to understand the conflicts of the ancient world because many of the problems and conflicts of the

world date back far beyond the modern era. Understanding conflicts of the ancient world gives us a better

understanding of conflicts in todays world. Conflicts that have been going on for thousands of years in Ancient Persia have continued on into modern times in what we now know

as the Middle East. The most valuable lesson we have learned from history is that it repeats itself.

RELATIONS TO MODERN WORLD & IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING

HISTORY

Anglim, Simon, Phyllis G. Jestice, Rob S. Rice, Scott M. Rusch, and John Serrati. Fighting Techniques of the Ancient World 3000 BC - 500 AD: Equipment, Combat Skills, and Tactics. New York: Amber, 2002. Print.

Ferrill, Arther. The Origins of War: From the Stone Age to Alexander the Great. New York, NY: Thames and Hudson, 1985. Print.

Kagan, Donald. "The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War." Google Books. Cornell University, 1969. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.

http://www.worldmapsonline.com/persian_empire.htm Google Images. Web. 06 April. 2014.

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