The Battle of Thermopylae

The Battle of Thermopylae

Athens and Sparts Verses Persia

After the defeat at Marathon...

the Persians vowed revenge against the Athenians. In 480BC, a new Persian king named Xerxes invaded Greece with troops, warships, and supply vessels. The Greek city-states banded together to fight the Persians.

Sparta and Athens Unite

The Greeks had to stop the Persians from reaching Athens. Spartan soldiers tried to stop the Persians from crossing through a pass called Thermopylae. A Greek traitor helped the Persian forces find a hidden pathway to surround the fighting Spartans.

Fierce Fighters

The Spartans fought bravely and to the death. Spartans had always considered the bow and arrow a weapon for cowards. The Persian forces attempted to fight the Spartans in close contact, but the Spartans could not be beat.

Killed by Arrows

The Persians were forced to kill the Spartan warriors from a distance, having Persian archers use bows and arrows.

300 Spartans

The bravery of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae was much celebrated. The Spartans heroic stand gave Athens time to prepare for the fight. The next battle would be a battle at sea, the Battle of Salamis.

Athens is Burned

Persian foot soldiers managed to finally march on Athens. The 300 Spartans had given the Athenians time to escape the city. Xerxes had the world's biggest temper tantrum and burned down Athens.

Athens Victory at Sea

Vigorous fighting took place at sea, between the Athenian navy and Persian navy. The Persians had more boats, but the Athenian ships were smaller and could move around the sea quicker and more easily. The Persian fleet was almost entirely destroyed by the Athenian navy.

Persia in Decline

After the losses Persia faced, they began to lose power. The army wasn't big enough to defend itself and the people were unhappy with the government.

Question Time!

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Multiple Choice

In 480 BC, Persia invaded

• Egypt

• Greece

• China

• Israel

Multiple Choice

The Battle of Thermopylae was Persia against

• Athens

• Sparta

• Both Athens and Sparta

• Rome

Multiple Choice

How were the Persians able to find out about a hidden pathway and surround the Spartans?

• Google Maps

• The Persians found the pathway on their own

• a soothsayer informed the Persians

• A Greek traitor told them

Multiple Choice

How did the 300 Spartans fighting to their deaths help the Athenians? The Athenians...

• could hide under their beds

• were able to burn down Athens

• had time to evacuate Athens and prepare for a battle at sea.

• could kill all the Spartans

Multiple Choice

One reason the Athenians won the Battle of Salamis (the battle at sea) was

• Athenian boats were quicker and could move more easily.

• The gods loved the Greeks more.

• The Persian boats had holes.

• Athenians had huge cannons and blew up the Persian fleet.