Chapter 4 / Section 3Chapter 4 / Section 3

Persia Attacks Persia Attacks

the Greeksthe Greeks

The Persian Empire (pgs. 132 & 133)The Persian Empire (pgs. 132 & 133) Persians were warriors and nomads who Persians were warriors and nomads who

lived in lived in PersiaPersia, the southwestern area of , the southwestern area of what is today Iran.what is today Iran.

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great, who ruled from 559 B.C. – , who ruled from 559 B.C. – 530 B.C., united the Persians building an 530 B.C., united the Persians building an empire larger than any yet seen in the world.empire larger than any yet seen in the world.

The Persian Empire conquered northern The Persian Empire conquered northern Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Syria, Canaan, Egypt, western India, the Phoenician cities, and the western India, the Phoenician cities, and the northeast region of Greece.northeast region of Greece.

The Persian Empire grew to about the size of the The Persian Empire grew to about the size of the continental United States.continental United States.

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great King Cyrus was said to be a merciful ruler who King Cyrus was said to be a merciful ruler who not not

only allowed many of the nations he conquered to only allowed many of the nations he conquered to practice their various religious beliefs - an practice their various religious beliefs - an unprecedented tolerance - but that he even actively unprecedented tolerance - but that he even actively assisted captive peoples, including the Jews, to return assisted captive peoples, including the Jews, to return to their lands of origin.to their lands of origin.

The Cyrus cylinder is considered the world’s first The Cyrus cylinder is considered the world’s first declaration of human rights.declaration of human rights.

On October 29th 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great liberated the city of Babylon, freed the Jews from Babylon and issued the world's first charter of human rights. Cyrus ruled with policies of religious tolerance and he did not enslave the people of kingdoms he conquered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8ySExBDrC0&feature=related

Persian GovernmentPersian Government DariusDarius (duh*ry*uhs) came to power in 521 (duh*ry*uhs) came to power in 521

B.C. and reorganized the government.B.C. and reorganized the government.

The empire under Darius was divided into 20 The empire under Darius was divided into 20 provinces called provinces called satrapies satrapies (say*truh*peez), (say*truh*peez), each with a ruler known as a each with a ruler known as a satrapsatrap (say*trap).(say*trap).

The Persian military consisted of full-time, The Persian military consisted of full-time, paid soldiers known as paid soldiers known as ImmortalsImmortals..

The Persian ReligionThe Persian Religion The religion in Persia was called The religion in Persia was called

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism (zohr*uh*was*tree*uh*nih*zuhm).(zohr*uh*was*tree*uh*nih*zuhm).

Its founder, Zoroaster, was born in 660 B.C. Its founder, Zoroaster, was born in 660 B.C. and began preaching after seeing visions as and began preaching after seeing visions as a young man.a young man.

Zoroaster believed in one god, the freedom Zoroaster believed in one god, the freedom of humans, and the triumph of good. of humans, and the triumph of good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGRgzFLcMMQ

The Persian Wars (pgs. 134 – 137)The Persian Wars (pgs. 134 – 137)The Battle of MarathonThe Battle of Marathon

Persians and Greeks often clashed and King Persians and Greeks often clashed and King Darius decided to stop the Greeks from Darius decided to stop the Greeks from interfering in his empire.interfering in his empire.

In 490 B.C., a PersianIn 490 B.C., a Persian fleetfleet (group of (group of warshipswarships under one command) of 20,000 under one command) of 20,000 soldiers landed on thesoldiers landed on the plainplain (large area of (large area of level or rolling treelesslevel or rolling treeless country) ofcountry) of MarathonMarathon..

At first, the Athenians held back and did not At first, the Athenians held back and did not attack because they only had 10,000 soldiers attack because they only had 10,000 soldiers compared to the Persians’ 20,000 soldiers.compared to the Persians’ 20,000 soldiers.

Tired of waiting, the Persian commander Tired of waiting, the Persian commander decided to sail south and attack Athens decided to sail south and attack Athens directly.directly.

He loaded his horsemen first, the strongest He loaded his horsemen first, the strongest part of his army.part of his army.

As soon as the cavalry was out of sight, the As soon as the cavalry was out of sight, the Greeks attacked and defeated the Persian Greeks attacked and defeated the Persian foot soldiers.foot soldiers.

According to legend, the Athenians sent the According to legend, the Athenians sent the messengermessenger PheidippidesPheidippides (fy*dip*uh*deez) 25 (fy*dip*uh*deez) 25 milesmiles to Athens with news of their victory.to Athens with news of their victory.

Pheidippides collapsed from exhaustion and Pheidippides collapsed from exhaustion and died.died.

Modern marathon races are named for this Modern marathon races are named for this famous run and are just over 26 miles longfamous run and are just over 26 miles long..http://www.history.com/videos/kill-zone-battle-of-thermopylae#battles-bc-

battle-at-marathon

Another Persian AttackAnother Persian Attack After Darius’s death, his sonAfter Darius’s death, his son XerxesXerxes

(zuhrk*seez)(zuhrk*seez) became king and vowed became king and vowed revenge against the Athenians.revenge against the Athenians.

In 480 B.C. he launched a new invasion of In 480 B.C. he launched a new invasion of Greece with 180,000 troops and thousands of Greece with 180,000 troops and thousands of warships.warships.

Sparta and Athens joined forces to defend Sparta and Athens joined forces to defend against Xerxes’s attack,against Xerxes’s attack,

along with aboutalong with about

30 other Greek30 other Greek

city- states.city- states.

Sparta sent the most soldiers, and their king,Sparta sent the most soldiers, and their king, LeonidasLeonidas ( lee*ah*nuh*duhs) served as ( lee*ah*nuh*duhs) served as commander.commander.

The Athenian generalThe Athenian general ThemistoclesThemistocles (thuh*mihs*(thuh*mihs* tuh*kleez) came up with a plan tuh*kleez) came up with a plan to defeat the Persians.to defeat the Persians.

Themistocles thought the best strategy would Themistocles thought the best strategy would be to attack the Persians’ ships and cut off be to attack the Persians’ ships and cut off supplies to its army.supplies to its army.

The Greeks fought the Persians atThe Greeks fought the Persians at ThermopylaeThermopylae (thehr*mah*puh*lee), a narrow (thehr*mah*puh*lee), a narrow pass through the mountains.pass through the mountains.

About 7,000 Greeks held off the Persians About 7,000 Greeks held off the Persians there for two days.there for two days.

A traitor, thinking he would get a reward, A traitor, thinking he would get a reward, directed the Persians to a mountain path that directed the Persians to a mountain path that led them around the Greeks.led them around the Greeks.

Leonidas sent most of his troops to safety.Leonidas sent most of his troops to safety.

Leonidas and about 300 Spartans stayed Leonidas and about 300 Spartans stayed behind and fought to the death.behind and fought to the death.

The Greeks lost the battle, but their valiant The Greeks lost the battle, but their valiant stand allowed the safe retreat of the Greek stand allowed the safe retreat of the Greek army and time for Athens to assemble 200 army and time for Athens to assemble 200 ships to use in attacking the Persians.ships to use in attacking the Persians.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj810hUDVUQ

This Greek fleet, whose ships were smaller and faster, attacked the Persians in the strait of Salamis (sa*luh*muhs) and destroyed almost the entire Persian fleet.

The Persians continued their march to Athens, but finding the it deserted, burned the city.

In 479 B.C., Greek city-states came together to form the largest Greek army ever assembled.

The Greek army crushed the Persians at Plataea (pluh*tee*uh) and the Persians retreated to Asia Minor.

The Persians were weakened by war.

After Darius and Xerxes, Persian kings raised taxes and spent money lavishly on the royal court.

Sons of kings were constantly plotting to take over the throne. As a result, six of the nine rulers after Darius were murdered.

By 330 B.C., the last Persian king was dead and a young Greek named Alexander the Great, ruled over his lands.

The Fall of the Persian Empire

http://www.documentary24.com/the-http://www.documentary24.com/the-persian-empire-against-alexander-persian-empire-against-alexander-the-great--292/the-great--292/