THE PERSIAN WAR!!!

Chapter 4 Sec.3

Turmoil…

• In 500 BC Persians took over many Greek cities in Asia Minor

• ___________ sends help to rebel failed

• Darius Response -

Belief

• Persians believed they would easily conquer the small area of Greece

• The battle ahead seemed like the least of their concerns

THEY FORGOT ABOUT the _______________

Battle of Marathon

• 490 BC – 20,000 Persians landed on the plain of Marathon – Short distance from __________– Baited them – 10,000 soldiers

• Athenians held back overlooking the plain • Persians change their plan of attack • Order of boarding the ship - _____________• BIG, HUGE MISTAKE!!!!• CHARGE

Legend

• Athenians sent Pheidippides home with news – raced 25 miles from Marathon to Athens

• Last words were “Victory”

Movie Notes

“Xerx the Jerk”• Son of Darius – 486 BC • REVENGE IT WAS 180,000 TROOPS • Had slaves carry him on a golden thrown to

overlook the total destruction of the Greeks

Greeks Prepare

• Spartans send all warriors, Athens sends it Navy

• PLAN under Athenian General Themistocles – – Thermopylae

Battle at Thermopylae

• Greeks were able to stall the Persians for roughly two days

• A traitor told Persians to use a mountain pass to get around them and attack from the back

• Greeks lost this battle, but gave Athenians time to assemble in the water

Movie Notes

Battle of Salamis

• Strait narrow strip again Greek advantage – Why?

• Threw burning wood onto ships to destroy them

Movie Notes

• Persians burned the city of Athens when they reached on foot

• 479 BC – created ______________ = largest Greek army to crush Persian army in Plataea

Persians retreated to Asia Minor

Fall of the Persian Empire

• Remained for 150 more years, but internal problems – Taxes – Fight over King – By 330 BC - __________________ was no match

for the failing empire – last Persian king died