PERSIAN EXPANSION The Persian empire expanded west from its base in Southwest Asia (Suza) Around 520 B.C., King Darius army reached the Ionic cities of Ephesus and Miletus on the eastern coast of the Aegean Darius s forces overthrew the Greek governments in these cities, and installed Persian tyrants to lead them. 1
PERSIAN EXPANSION The Ionian Greeks in these cities chafed under the oppression of the Persian rulers and wanted their Greek style of government back The Ionians rebelled and sent for help from fellow Greeks throughout the Aegean Sparta refused to help, citing religious holiday observances 2
PERSIAN EXPANSION Athens responded by sending 25,000 men and 20 warships to rescue the rebels. The Athenians and Ionians won a brief victory over the Persians at Miletus and Ephesus Eventually, as the Athenians withdrew and Darius sent more troops, the rebellion was overthrown, and Darius vowed revenge against the Athenians Miletus Ephesus 3
PERSIAN EXPANSION Around 500 B.C., Darius forces sacked Miletus. In 490, Darius put together a force of 25,000 men and led the Persian fleet across the Aegean to an island north of Athens called Euboea. The army of Persia s King Darius sacked the town of Eretria on the island of Euboea 490 BC Eretria 4
Marathon He then landed on the eastern coast of Attica where they amassed on the marshy plain of Marathon. The Athenian force of some 10,000 positioned themselves in the hills above. Miltiades, the Athenian commander, had heard that the Persians had withdrawn some of their cavalry to the ships to prepare for an attack on Athens from the sea. Miltiades chose this moment to attack, relying on surprise, speed, and a three-pronged assault across a wide front. His forces ran toward the Persian archers, getting underneath their arrows. The Battle of Marathon, 490 BC Marathon 5
FOILED SEA ATTACK Some 6,400 Persians were killed, against the Athenian Army s losses, which numbered fewer than 200. The Battle of Marathon, 490 BC Marathon Athens 6
Marathon Despite winning the battle, the city of Athens was now exposed to a threat from the sea Miltiades sent a messenger from Marathon to Athens (approximately 25 miles) named Pheidippidies to alert the city of the victory and the threat (he delivered the message and died) The Athenian navy prepared for the battle, loaded the harbor with ships, and the Persians withdrew in defeat 480 BC The new path of the Persians 7
Persian Campaign, 480 BC In 480 BC, Darius was dead and his son, Xerxes decided to avenge his father s loss to the Greeks. He sent 50,000 men across the Bosporus (the narrow channel between Asia and Europe)rather than attack by sea. The Greeks were badly divided Xerxes met no resistance as he marched down the Greek coast from Macedonia Thermopylae When Xerxes came to a narrow mountain pass at Thermopylae, 7000 Greeks, including 300 Spartans, blocked his way. The two forces fought for three days before a Greek traitor showed the Persians a secret path around the cliffs. Fearing defeat, the Spartans held the pass while the other Greek forces retreated. The Spartan s valiant sacrifice (all were killed) made a great impression on all the Greeks. 8
Major Battles of the Persian War Thermopylae Athens Salamis 9
Consequences of the Persian Wars With the Persian threat ended, all the Greek city-states felt a new sense of confidence and freedom. (Athens in particular) After the war, Athens became the leader of an alliance of 140 city-states called the Delian League. The league drove the Persians from the territories surrounding Greece and ended the threat of future attacks. Consequences of the Persian Wars Athens used its power and position and navy to control the league. The prestige of victory and the wealth of the empire set the stage for a burst of creativity in Athens. According to Lindstrom s Law, after the battle w/persians and chaos ends, what will the people demand? 10
Fill-in Notes Greek city-states (polis) unite against Persia Victory in Persia leads to the formation of Delian League (under Athens control) 11
Peloponnesian War The power gained by Athens contained the seeds of disaster Many Greeks outside of Athens resented the power and domination of Athens following the Persian Wars Athens used power to bully allies into giving tribute/taxes to Athens for protection against Persian threats Sparta and other resentful city-states formed the Peloponnesian League Peloponnesian War In 431 bc, warfare broke out between the Delian League and Peloponnesian League Peloponnesian War lasted 27 years Athens dominated on Sea Problems: Sparta located inland away from the sea Athens located on sea: could be affected by blockade Sparta dominated on Land Problem: Not a threat to Athens on the sea Athens besieged by Spartan army Build walls around the city all the way to the sea Disease/plague killed many of the inhabitants leading to Athenian defeat Persian navy helped Spartans to win victory 12
Consequences of Peloponnesian War End of Athenian dominance in the Greek World Fighting continued between rival Greek City-States resulting in a weakness/disunity that led to an outside power gaining power over the Greek Civilization. 13