The Persian Wars :The Persian Wars Freedom vs Slavery? Democracy vs Tyranny? Europe vs Asia? Or empire vs empire?


Background :Background Persian Expansion: In the 500s, the Persian Empire expanded to the borders of Greece 2) Athenian Democracy: In 508BC, Athens became the ‘first’ democracy in history. 3) Ionian Revolt: Greek states revolted against Persian rule between 499-493BC


Battle 1: :Battle 1: When: 490BC Marathon Where: Marathon, near Athens How many? c.11,000 Greeks, c.25,000 Persian infantry and 5,000 cavalry Who: King Darius (Persia), Datis (Persia), Miltiades (Athens), Pheidippides (Athens) Outcome: Greek victory. Persia forced to flee from Greece. What: Land battle


Between the Wars…Persia :Between the Wars…Persia Darius swore revenge Egypt revolted in 487BC Darius died in 486BC Xerxes became King and focused on restoring order in his own Kingdom He spent 4 years raising a force of 200,000 to invade Greece He sent emissaries to Greece to demand submission


Persia…continued :Persia…continued He built 800 ships He had a 2km canal cut through Mt Athos He had a bridge of boats built across the Hellespont He had ships filled with supplies, and built depots along the route to Greece By 480, he was ready to punish the Greeks


Between the Wars…Greece :Between the Wars…Greece Themistocles became a prominent figure Athens discovered large silver deposits Themistocles convinced Athens to build a large navy of 200 ships 31 Greek states met in Corinth in 481 and formed the Hellenic Alliance Leonidas was put in charge of the Greek army


Greece…continued :Greece…continued The Spartan Eurybiades was put in charge of the navy Internal disputes in Greece were suspended Spies were sent to Persia Ostracised citizens were recalled to help the war effort By 480 BC, Greece was united and ready to face a Persian invasion


The Invasion – 480BC :The Invasion – 480BC Xerxes gathered men from 46 nations in Asia Minor Using two bridges made of over 300 boats each, he crossed his huge force across the Hellespont The army spent over 3 months travelling down towards Athens A canal was cut at Mt Athos to allow his ships through safely


Xerxes’ Route :Xerxes’ Route


The Armies Meet :The Armies Meet The Greeks planned to halt the Persian advance at Thermopylae, a narrow pass north of Athens. Nearby was Cape Artemisium, where they could position their navy.


Battle 2: :Battle 2: When: August 480BC Thermopylae Where: Thermopylae Pass, Greece How many? 300 Spartans, c.7,000 other Greeks, up to 200,000 Persians Who: King Xerxes (Persia), Leonidas (Sparta), Ephialtes (Greek traitor) Outcome: Persian victory, yet the Greeks held up Xerxes’ advance for four days. What: Land battle


Herodotus: :Herodotus: “Then the Hellenes put out to sea and engaged battle with them; and in this battle the two sides were nearly equal to one another; for the fleet of Xerxes by reason of its great size and numbers suffered damage from itself, since the ships were thrown into confusion and ran into one another…”


Battle 3: :Battle 3: When: 480BC – same time as Thermopylae Artemisium Where: Artemisium, near Thermopylae How many? c.300 Greek triremes, c.200 Persian ships Who: Eurybiades (Sparta) Outcome: After several indecisive encounters, the Greeks withdrew on news of the defeat at Thermopylae What: Naval battle


Athens is evacuated :Athens is evacuated The defeat at Thermopylae forced the Greeks to reconsider their strategy Themistocles convinced his people to evacuate Athens to lure the Persians south He argued that they should rely on their naval forces to defeat the Persians, as they were heavily outnumbered on the ground


Themistocles’ masterstroke :Themistocles’ masterstroke His plan was to force a naval battle in the narrow straits at Salamis… and destroy the Persian fleet of 800 triremes… Bold but potentially brilliant…


Battle 4: :Battle 4: When: September, 480BC Salamis Where: Salamis Island, near Athens How many? C.380 Greek triremes, c.800 Persian ships Who: King Xerxes (Persia), Themistocles (Athens), Eurybiades (Sparta) Outcome: Decisive Greek victory. Xerxes withdrew ready to fight again the following year. What: Naval battle


The Turning Point :The Turning Point 390 ships were hidden behind a promontory off the island of Salamis. Themistocles sent a false message to Xerxes, saying the Greeks were trying to escape and to send the fleet immediately. Xerxes sent 200 Egyptian vessels to the other end of the bay and the rest of the fleet were ordered into the narrow strait off Salamis. Greeks attacked. Persians confused and could not manoeuvre their boats. Persians were totally defeated.


Aeschylus: :Aeschylus: “Forward, sons of the Greeks, Liberate the fatherland, liberate Your children, your women, the altars of the gods of your fathers And the graves of your forebears: Now is the fight for everything.


Winter break… :Winter break… The two sides broke off for winter, in order to regroup Xerxes, humiliated, returned to Persia He left Mardonius to finish the war in 479BC He chose Plataea for the final showdown Athens convinced Sparta to join with them again for battle


Battle 5: :Battle 5: When: August, 479BC Plataea Where: Plataea, southern Greece How many? c.40,000 Greeks, c.50-100,000 Persians Who: Mardonius (Persia), Pausanias (Sparta), Aristides (Athens) Outcome: Greek victory. Mardonius killed, Persian forces fled toward Persia. What: Land battle


Herodotus: :Herodotus: “so long as Mardonius survived, they held out against them, and defending themselves, they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when Mardonius was slain…then the others too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians…since in truth they were contending light-armed against hoplites”


The End… :The End… On the same day, the Greeks finished off the Persian navy as well…


Battle 6: :Battle 6: When: August, 479BC, same time as Plataea Mycale Where: Mycale, Ionia (modern Turkey) How many? c.6,000 Greeks and 100 ships, c.50,000 Persians and 300 ships Who: King Leotychides (Sparta) Outcome: Greek victory. Persian force defeated and fleet destroyed. Greeks returned to mainland. What: ‘Amphibious’ assault


Herodotus: :Herodotus: “so long as Mardonius survived, they held out against them, and defending themselves, they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when Mardonius was slain…then the others too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians…since in truth they were contending light-armed against hoplites”