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The Persian Wars - Overview
• Freedom vs Slavery?• Democracy vs Tyranny?• Europe vs Asia?• Or empire vs empire?
Background1) Persian Expansion: In the 500s, the Persian Empire expanded to the
borders of Greece
2) Athenian Democracy: In 508BC, Athens became the ‘first’ democracy in history.
3) Ionian Revolt: Greek states revolted against Persian rule between 499-493BC
Battle 1:When: 490BC
Marathon
Where: Marathon, near Athens
How many? c.11,000 Greeks, c.25,000 Persian infantry and 5,000 cavalry
Who: King Darius (Persia), Datis (Persia), Miltiades (Athens), Pheidippides (Athens)
Outcome: Greek victory. Persia forced to flee from Greece.
What: Land battle
Between the Wars…Persia• Darius swore revenge• Egypt revolted in 487BC• Darius died in 486BC• Xerxes became King and focused on
restoring order in his own Kingdom• He spent 4 years raising a force of
200,000 to invade Greece• He sent emissaries to Greece to
demand submission
Persia…continued• He built 800 ships• He had a 2km canal cut through
Mt Athos• He had a bridge of boats built
across the Hellespont• He had ships filled with supplies,
and built depots along the route to Greece
• By 480, he was ready to punish the Greeks
Between the Wars…Greece• Themistocles became a prominent
figure• Athens discovered large silver
deposits• Themistocles convinced Athens to
build a large navy of 200 ships• 31 Greek states met in Corinth in 481
and formed the Hellenic Alliance• Leonidas was put in charge of the
Greek army
Greece…continued• The Spartan Eurybiades was put in
charge of the navy• Internal disputes in Greece were
suspended• Spies were sent to Persia• Ostracised citizens were recalled
to help the war effort• By 480 BC, Greece was united and
ready to face a Persian invasion
The Invasion – 480BC
• Xerxes gathered men from 46 nations in Asia Minor• Using two bridges made of over 300 boats each, he crossed his huge
force across the Hellespont• The army spent over 3 months travelling down towards Athens• A canal was cut at Mt Athos to allow his ships through safely
Xerxes’ Route
The Armies MeetThe Greeks planned to halt the Persian advance at
Thermopylae, a narrow pass north of Athens.
Nearby was Cape Artemisium, where they could position their navy.
Battle 2:When: August 480BC
Thermopylae
Where: Thermopylae Pass, Greece
How many? 300 Spartans, c.7,000 other Greeks, up to 200,000 Persians
Who: King Xerxes (Persia), Leonidas (Sparta), Ephialtes (Greek traitor)
Outcome: Persian victory, yet the Greeks held up Xerxes’ advance for four days.
What: Land battle
Herodotus:
“Then the Hellenes put out to sea and engaged battle with them; and in this battle the two sides were nearly equal to one another; for the fleet of Xerxes by reason of its great size and numbers suffered damage from itself, since the ships were thrown into confusion and ran into one another…”
Battle 3:When: 480BC – same time
as Thermopylae
Artemisium
Where: Artemisium, near Thermopylae
How many? c.300 Greek triremes, c.200 Persian ships
Who: Eurybiades (Sparta)
Outcome: After several indecisive encounters, the Greeks withdrew on news of the defeat at Thermopylae
What: Naval battle
Athens is evacuated
• The defeat at Thermopylae forced the Greeks to reconsider their strategy
• Themistocles convinced his people to evacuate Athens to lure the Persians south
• He argued that they should rely on their naval forces to defeat the Persians, as they were heavily outnumbered on the ground
Themistocles’ masterstrokeHis plan was to force a
naval battle in the narrow straits at Salamis… and destroy the Persian fleet of 800 triremes…
Bold but potentially brilliant…
Battle 4:When: September, 480BC
Salamis
Where: Salamis Island, near Athens
How many? C.380 Greek triremes, c.800 Persian ships
Who: King Xerxes (Persia), Themistocles (Athens), Eurybiades (Sparta)
Outcome: Decisive Greek victory. Xerxes withdrew ready to fight again the following year.
What: Naval battle
The Turning Point
• 390 ships were hidden behind a promontory off the island of Salamis.
• Themistocles sent a false message to Xerxes, saying the Greeks were trying to escape and to send the fleet immediately.
• Xerxes sent 200 Egyptian vessels to the other end of the bay and the rest of the fleet were ordered into the narrow strait off Salamis.
• Greeks attacked. Persians confused and could not manoeuvre their boats.
• Persians were totally defeated.
Aeschylus:
“Forward, sons of the Greeks,
Liberate the fatherland, liberate
Your children, your women, the altars of the gods of your fathers
And the graves of your forebears:
Now is the fight for everything.
Winter break…
• The two sides broke off for winter, in order to regroup
• Xerxes, humiliated, returned to Persia
• He left Mardonius to finish the war in 479BC
• He chose Plataea for the final showdown
• Athens convinced Sparta to join with them again for battle
Battle 5:When: August, 479BC
Plataea
Where: Plataea, southern Greece
How many? c.40,000 Greeks, c.50-100,000 Persians
Who: Mardonius (Persia), Pausanias (Sparta), Aristides (Athens)
Outcome: Greek victory. Mardonius killed, Persian forces fled toward Persia.
What: Land battle
Herodotus:
“so long as Mardonius survived, they held out against them, and defending themselves, they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when Mardonius was slain…then the others too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians…since in truth they were contending light-armed against hoplites”
The End…
• On the same day, the Greeks finished off the Persian navy as well…
Battle 6:When: August, 479BC, same time as Plataea
Mycale
Where: Mycale, Ionia (modern Turkey)
How many? c.6,000 Greeks and 100 ships, c.50,000 Persians and 300 ships
Who: King Leotychides (Sparta)
Outcome: Greek victory. Persian force defeated and fleet destroyed. Greeks returned to mainland.
What: ‘Amphibious’ assault
Herodotus:
“so long as Mardonius survived, they held out against them, and defending themselves, they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when Mardonius was slain…then the others too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians…since in truth they were contending light-armed against hoplites”