Persia Attacks Persia Attacks the Greeksthe Greeks

Using illustrations fromUsing illustrations from National Geographic’s National Geographic’s Journey Across TimeJourney Across Time

Early PersiaEarly Persia Persia:Persia: civilization SW of what is today civilization SW of what is today

IranIran Early Persians were warriors and Early Persians were warriors and

nomadsnomads

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great united Persians into united Persians into a powerful kingdom: a powerful kingdom:

An empire larger than any yet seen in the world An empire larger than any yet seen in the world

Persia’s Persia’s EmpireEmpire 539 BC Cyrus’s Persian armies capture 539 BC Cyrus’s Persian armies capture

Babylon in MesopotamiaBabylon in Mesopotamia

Then: Asia MinorThen: Asia Minor

SyriaSyria

CanaanCanaan

Phoenician cities Phoenician cities

Cyrus treats the subjects well, & even let Jews, Cyrus treats the subjects well, & even let Jews, that had been captured by Babylonians, to that had been captured by Babylonians, to return home. return home.

Reminder Reminder Timeline Timeline

of Mesopotamiaof Mesopotamia Mesopotamia: Sumer

Ca 3,000 BC

Sargon & Akkadians Ca 2,340 BC

Hammurabi & Babylonians

Ca 1,800 BC

Assyrians

Ca 900 BC

Nebuchadnezzar & Chaldeans

Ca 605

Persians from NE capture

539 BC

Persia’s Persia’s EmpireEmpire

Cyrus’s merciful rule helped keep the growing Cyrus’s merciful rule helped keep the growing empire together.empire together.

They then continued to conquer:They then continued to conquer:EgyptEgyptWestern Western

India India Thrace Thrace

(region NE of Greece)(region NE of Greece)

The empire was then about the size of USA todayThe empire was then about the size of USA today

Reasons for Reasons for the Persian the Persian

WarsWars Greek colonization clashed Greek colonization clashed

with Persianswith Persians By 500’s BC Persia controlled By 500’s BC Persia controlled

Greek cities in Asia MinorGreek cities in Asia Minor 499 BC Greeks rebelled with 499 BC Greeks rebelled with

Athenian army support, but Athenian army support, but were defeatedwere defeated

King Darius now decided King Darius now decided Greeks must be stopped from Greeks must be stopped from interfering with the Persian interfering with the Persian Empire Empire

The Battle of The Battle of MarathonMarathon

490 BC Persian fleet of 20,000 soldiers 490 BC Persian fleet of 20,000 soldiers landed on plain oflanded on plain of Marathon Marathon (close to (close to Athens)Athens)

10,000 Athenian soldiers waited on the hills10,000 Athenian soldiers waited on the hills Persians waited, but grew impatient (began Persians waited, but grew impatient (began

to board ships to sail to Athens)to board ships to sail to Athens) Athenians defeated the Athenians defeated the

Persians easily Persians easily

Pheidippides; “Victory!”

Another Persian Another Persian StrikeStrike 486 BC Darius’ son 486 BC Darius’ son XerxesXerxes became became

emperor after Darius died: emperor after Darius died: Revenge against Athenians Revenge against Athenians

480 BC launched invasion with 480 BC launched invasion with 180,000 troops and thousands 180,000 troops and thousands of warships and supply vesselsof warships and supply vessels

Greeks joined forcesGreeks joined forces Athenian general, Athenian general, ThemistoclesThemistocles planplan

To have time to ready Greek fleet: 7,000 Greek To have time to ready Greek fleet: 7,000 Greek soldiers hold of Persians at soldiers hold of Persians at ThermopylaeThermopylae (Hot (Hot Gates); a narrow mountain passGates); a narrow mountain pass

Another Persian Another Persian StrikeStrike

Spartans especially brave incl. Leonidas especially brave incl. Leonidas Gave enough time to allow Athens to assemble Gave enough time to allow Athens to assemble

200 ships200 ships

Greeks attacked Persian Greeks attacked Persian

ships at straits of Salamis ships at straits of Salamis

& defeated the Persian fleet& defeated the Persian fleet

Persian army still marched on: AthensPersian army still marched on: Athens Persians burned the cityPersians burned the city Now: Greeks more determined than ever….Now: Greeks more determined than ever….

The End of the Persian The End of the Persian EmpireEmpire

479 BC Greeks came together479 BC Greeks came together Greeks crushed Persian army at Greeks crushed Persian army at PlataeaPlataea (NW of (NW of

Athens)Athens) Persians retreated to Asia MinorPersians retreated to Asia Minor

Persia: lose strength, internal problems incl. new Persia: lose strength, internal problems incl. new rulers raising taxes to pay for luxuries, as well as rulers raising taxes to pay for luxuries, as well as royal families fighting, plots to kill kings/emperorsroyal families fighting, plots to kill kings/emperors

334 BC Alexander the Great invaded334 BC Alexander the Great invaded 330 BC last Persian emperor died and Alexander 330 BC last Persian emperor died and Alexander

the Great ruledthe Great ruled