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The Persian War. How did the Greeks defeat the most powerful empire in the world?. 500 – 499 B.C.: The Ionian Revolt. Ionian states revolt against Persian conquerors Athens and Eretria come to their aid. 490 B.C.: Battle of Marathon. Darius decides to punish Athens and Eretia
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How did the Greeks defeat the most powerful empire in the world?
500 – 499 B.C.: The Ionian Revolt • Ionian states revolt against Persian conquerors • Athens and Eretria come to their aid
490 B.C.: Battle of Marathon • Darius decides to punish Athens and Eretia • Meets Athens at the Plain of Marathon, but Athens doesn’t show!
490 B.C.: Battle of Marathon • The Persians pack it up for Athens • With the Cavalry packed up and the infantry standing in shallow water, the Athenian army charged down the hill at the Persian army! • Soldiers lost: Athens 192, Persia 6,400
Themistocles’ “Wooden Wall” • Many Greeks realized this was not the last time they’d see the Persians • 'Though all else shall be taken, Zeus, the all seeing, grants that the wooden wall only shall not fail.' • Themistocles believes a Fleet of Triremes are to defeat Persia
Second Persian Invasion 480 BC • Emperor Xerxes assembles an army of 200,000 Men • According to Herodotus • Wanted to invade by land so as not to rely on navy • Crossed at Hellenspont
480 B.C.: Battle of Thermopylae • While The Athenians are preparing their fleet, Darius’ Successor, Xerxes Attacks the Spartan Army at Thermopylae
480 B.C.: Battle of Thermopylae Sparta’s King, Leonidas A Greek Hoplite Thermopylae
480 B.C. Continues… • After Thermopylae, the Persians march south to Athens • Themistocles, however, lets Xerxes burn Athens to the ground and plunder the city • Themisticles was to win this war at sea…
480 B.C.: The Battle of Salamis • Themistocles lures the Persian fleet into the channel between Salamis and the mainland. • The Persians are taken by surprise! • Persian Fleet cannot maneuver like the Greek Triremes,
The End of the War… • 479 B.C.: The Battle of Platea • 478: Formation of the Delian League