01/13 The Persian Wars

The Persian Wars

A Social Studies Lesson

Persian Expansion

• In the 400s b.c., the Persians wanted to expand their empire into Europe.

• They soon clashed with the Greeks who had a very different civilization.

• The Persians believed in an all-powerful

  king.

• Many Greeks believed that citizens should choose their own

  rulers.

Multiple Choice

How were Greeks and Persians different?

• Persia believed women were good enough for the army and Greece didn't.

• Persia believed everyone should expand and Greece didn't.

• Persia believed in an all powerful king and Greece believed in citizens participating.

City-States Revolt

• The Persians already controlled Greek city-states in Anatolia and in 499 b.c. these city-states revolted.

• The Athenians sent warships to support the Greek rebels and the Persians crushed the revolt.

• The Persian king Darius I was angry at Athens for interfering.

Multiple Choice

Why was Darius I upset that Athens interfered?

• Athens was supposed to be their friend.

• Darius I had asked Athens to help him instead.

• Athens could have helped the Greek city-states win the revolt.

Greece Invasion

• In 490 b.c. Darius I sent a fleet of 600 ships to invade Greece.

• When the Persians landed at Marathon, the Athenians knew they were

  outnumbered and would lose if they attacked.

• The Persians then decided to board their ships and attack Athens by sea.

• When the strongest Persian fighting units were on the ships, the Athenians

  attacked and the Persians suffered a terrible defeat.

Multiple Choice

Why did the Athenians wait until Persians were on the ship to attack?

• They knew they were outnumbered and they wanted to wait until they had a better chance to win.

• They were scared.

• They only knew how to fight on ships.

• They were worried that if they attacked, Persia would get even angrier.

Fun Fact

According to Greek legend, a young runner raced to Athens with the news. He reached Athens and cried out “Victory.” Then he fell and died from exhaustion. Today, marathon races are named for that famous run.

Persia vs. Greece

• The Persians vowed revenge against the Athenians and in 480 b.c. a new Persian king named Xerxes invaded Greece with a large army and thousands of warships.

• His force even had its own supply ships.

• The Greek city-states joined together to fight the Persians: Sparta’s King Leonidas supplied the most soldiers and Themistocles of Athens directed the Greek navy.

• Themistocles' plan was to attack the

  Persian supply ships and cut off the Persian army’s supplies.

Multiple Choice

Why did Persia want revenge against Athens?

• Persians were racist against Athenians.

• Persia wanted everyone to know how strong they are.

• Persia was upset Athens stole supplies.

• They helped in the revolt of the city-states Persia conquered.

300

For three days Spartan soldiers fought the Persians at Thermopylae. The Spartans fought bravely but could not stop the Persians. Many troops abandoned the battle. Only 300 Spartan soldiers remained and fought to the death.

Persia vs. Athens

• The Spartans’ heroic fight gave Themistocles and the Athenians time to carry out the plan.

• The Athenian fleet lured the Persian fleet into the strait of Salamis near Athens.

• A strait or channel is a narrow strip of water between two pieces of land.

• The large, heavy Persian ships crowded together in the channel.

• The Greek ships were smaller and could maneuver more easily, so the Greek navy destroyed most of the Persian fleet.

Multiple Choice

Why did the Greek Navy destroy the Persian fleet so easily?

• They were better at steering in the ocean.

• They laid out a careful plan and everything went perfectly for them.

• Their ships were smaller, so it was easier to navigate in the water.

• Their ships were stronger and could withstand damage.

Persia: BIG MAD

• The Persian army continued to attack.

• It marched to Athens and burned the city.

• Finally in 479 b.c. the last battle was fought.

• With improved fighting and better weapons, the Greek forces defeated the Persians at Plataea, northwest of Athens.

Multiple Choice

Why did the Greeks win against Persia?

• They had better weapons and improved fighting.

• They used female wrestlers to help fight.

• They had better ship cannons.

• They were quicker and smarter.

Persia: Unhappy People

• The Persian Empire now faced many challenges because its army was no longer able to defend the whole empire.

• The people grew unhappy with their government and paying heavy taxes.

• The royal family disagreed over who should rule, so Persia weakened and became open to outside attacks.

• In the 300s b.c., Persia was invaded by a young and powerful Greek

  ruler named Alexander, which ended The Persian Empire.

• A new Greek empire grew that eventually became even larger than the Persian Empire.

Multiple Select

How did Persia become weak? Select all the apply.

• Its army couldn't defend it anymore.

• The royal family couldn't decide who would rule.

• Greek city-states kept attacking them.

• People began to hate the government.

• They ran out of military people after the Athens attacj.