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Explore Sparta's rise to power, Persian invasion, Xerxes' reign, pivotal battles like Thermopylae and Salamis, ending the Persian threat, paving the way for Greek aggression.
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The Rise of Sparta • Ever since Messenian Wars Sparta followed an aggressive policy of expansion, partly through war and partly through diplomacy. • By the beginning of the 5th century Sparta owned the whole of southern Peloponnese, and dominated the rest as the leading power. • The armies of Sparta already had a reputation of invincibility • Successful reforms in the 7th century had spared Sparta of the worst social/economic/political problems that other Greek cities faced in the 7th and 6th c. • While the rest of the Greek world was facing tyranny, poverty and upheaval, Sparta was enjoying prosperity, stability, and political/military success.
Cyrus II and the Foundation • Between 550 and 530 BC Cyrus II, establishes a vast empire • First he incorporates Media and Persia, then the Assyrian Empire, and then many lands on the east of Iran • He establishes a rule based on local diversity, respects local religions and customs • His son and heir Cambyses II conquered Egypt.
Darius I (the housekeeper) • Darius was a pretender, who prevailed after a bloody succession war. • He expanded the empire to the East, and tried to incorporate Europe, including Greece • His European campaigns were mostly a failure • He organized the Empire, cut new coins (darics), and introduced new laws. • His generals were defeated by the Athenians at Marathon.
The Battle of Marathon (490 BC) • The first Persian invasion primarily targeted Athens. • Spartan help was asked and promised but delayed, due to religious observance. • The Athenians alone defeated the invading force with the brilliant tactics of general Miltiades. • When the Spartans arrived, they inspected the monument, praised the Athenians and left.
Xerxes • 486: Darius dies: Xerxes becomes king • 484: Egypt revolts • After the suppression of the revolt Xerxes prepares for a campaign against Greece. • 480: Xerxes personally leads an invasion of Greece
The real Xerxes • A sophisticated, fun-loving womanizer, better suited for the luxuries of the court than the battlefield. • Xerxes inherited the Greek campaign from his father. • During his reign, a new imperial capital was built, inteded to glorify Persian might
The Battle of Thermopylae • 480: Although strategically it was a hopeless undertaking, the stand of king Leonidas and his personal guard at Thermopylae, encourages the fighting Greeks. • The Athenians, with an equal spirit of bravery, retreat and allow the city to be burnt to the ground. • This is the limit of Xerxes’ successes in Greece
Battle of Salamis (480) • In the narrow waters of Salamis the Athenian-led Greek fleet destroys the Persian navy. • Xerxes, for fear of being cut off, leaves for Asia • His general Mardonius is left behind with much of the land army
The battle of Plataia (479 BC) • In the battlefield of Plataia the Spartan army, led by Pausanias, regent for the son of Leonidas, wiped out the Persian land forces. • Spartan victory was so swift and decisive that the more populous Athenian army did not even get the chance to get to the battlefield on time. • This ended Persian threat against Greece. In future, the Greeks would be the aggressors against Persia.
