2. The Timeline Battle of Plataea
Ionian Battle of
Battle of
Revolt Marathon
Thermopylae,
Begins
Battle of
Salamis Strait
499 BCE 479 BCE
War War Ends
Begins
490
BCE
480
BCE
3. Information about Greeks
Were not allies at
beginning of the war
Athens and Sparta most
powerful city states of the
many throughout the
Mediterranean
Athens
Sparta excels at land Sparta
combat
Athens, while having
many soldiers, has a very
strong navy
4. Greek Warfare
Naval Warfare
Greek Ships called
Triremes- rowed ship with
heavy Iron Ram on front
Land Warfare
Uses Phalanx Tactics
metal shields
Spears and swords (close
range weapons)
5. The Persians
Began as a small tribe in Iran
Expanded quickly into the largest empire in
history
King Darius allowed conquered nations to keep
their religions and kings in exchange for tribute
(money or goods) and troops for the army
7. Persian Weapons
Leather and wood shields
Short Swords
Depended on large
number of archers
Had larger navy than
Athens
8. Event 1: Ionians Revolt
The Persians had taken
over Greek Settlements in
Ionia- on the coast of Asia
Minor
The Greeks had moved
there after the collapse of
Mycenae and the beginning
of the Greek Dark Ages
They had to contribute
soldiers and tribute to
Persians in exchange for
being a part of the empire-
they had be conquered.
10. The Reaction
Athens sends troops to
Ionia as well as ships.
The Persians are defeated
in one battle
The Athenians leave
Persia comes back, burns
city of Miletus to the ground
People are sold into
slavery- normal at the time
Persia now mad at the
Athenians
11. Event 2: Battle of Marathon
Darius decides to invade the
Greek mainland and take
it over.
Sends messengers to ask
for surrender
Greeks- according to legend
throw messengers into a
pit
12. Video
Take detailed notes on:
Lead up to the battle
Important military leaders
Details of the battle
Outcome of the battle
Significance/Importance of the battle
13. Reactions
Darius is furious
Sends troops to Marathon, a city
outside of Athens (about 26.2
miles)
Marathon myth/confusion
Sparta is having a religious festival
and can’t help until tomorrow
Athenians meet them with their
allies- led by Militades
Sweep around the Persians,
surround them and defeat them
Greeks form an Alliance to protect
against further Persian Aggression
14. Event 3: Battle of
Thermopylae
Darius has died
Xerxes, his son decides that
the time has come to try to
invade again
Marches on Greece with
largest army and navy ever
assembled
Army marches across a
man made bridge over the
Hellespont toward Greece
Navy sails through a man
made canal to avoid storms
15. What Actually Happened
The Greeks use their
alliance
Athens and Sparta lead
army and fleet to fight
against Persians- anyone
who can possibly fight, even
the poor of Athens are
brought in
Sparta makes a stand at
Thermopylae
Athens makes stand at
Salamis- a strait (narrow
point in water) Hold on, I lost my contact. Has
anyone seen it? Seriously guys?
Just one second and we can get
back to it.
16. Video
Take detailed notes on:
Lead up to the battle
Important military leaders
Details of the battle
Outcome of the battle
Significance/Importance of the battle
17. Thermopylae
Small passage between mountains- makes it hard for
Archers to shoot, hard for troops in come in large numbers-
Xerxes loses his biggest advantage
A traitor shows the way around
The Spartans decide to stay and defend- “give us your
arms” “Come and get them”
About 1300 men (300 were Spartans- fought to the death to
stop the Persians
Athens panics and abandons the city- only women, children,
elderly left while all others are off fighting
Xerxes burns it to the ground
19. Event 4: Salamis Strait
Athenian navy commander-
Themistocles thought of way to
defeat the larger Persian navy
Used similar tactics to
Spartans- Salamis strait was a
small channel between two
areas of land.
Told Persians that he wanted to
switch sides
Persians came to join him,
Greeks retreat, suddenly attack
and ram 300 ships down
before the Persians retreat
21. Event 5: Battle of Plataea
Xerxes retreats back to Asia
Minor
Bridges at Hellespont have
been destroyed- weather is
not a fan of Xerxes
Leaves an army to attack in
the Spring
Greeks have to decide
whether or not to continue
their alliance
22. What Happened
Greeks Continue their alliance
Xerxes attacks in the Spring
80,000 allied Greek soldiers
defeat the Persian Army
Athens has been destroyed,
but comes out as the city state
that defeated the Persian
Navy, and created the alliance.
They are poised to become the
most powerful city state in
Athens- a Golden Age