The Persian Wars

1. The Persian Wars Coach Crews World History

2. Before • The Persian Empire united a wide area under a single government - Cyrus the Great - Darius • Both Sparta and Athens played a role in defeating the Persians - rivals set aside their differences to work together for a common cause

3. During The Persian Wars • Persia controls Greek cities in Asia Minor • Athenian army helps the Greeks in Asia Minor but the rebellion fails • Darius decides the mainland Greeks must be stopped

4. During The Battle of Marathon • A short distance from Athens • Persians waited for several days for the Athenians • Persian commander ordered them back on the boats • When the horsemen were on the boat, Greeks attacked the Persian foot soldiers and defeated them • Athenian messenger ran 25 miles back to Athens. He collapsed, and his last word was “victory”

5. During Another Persian Strike • Darius dies and his son Xerxes becomes king. He vows revenge on Greece. • Athens and Sparta join forces • Greeks fight the Persians at Thermoplyae, Greeks lost but assembled 200 ships • Greeks used their smaller, faster ships to win the Battle of Salamis. Persians marched on and burn Athens • Greek army won at Plataea, the turning point of the war. The Persians retreated back to Asia Minor

6. During What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall? • Weakened by war • Rulers taxed the people and spent the money lavishly • Sons of kings had little power, so they killed rulers to get power

7. After

8. After