9-6-12

[6th Marcus]

Persian war period-Dorian age-only the rich could fight because the armor was bronze iron later replaced bronze-it was cheaper and more durable-new fighting formation called phalanx big block unit oriented was used for many centuries. Persian war-all of greece vs. the Persian Empire started on the island of anatolia a greek island taken over by Persia. Ionian greeks revolted and Athens tried to help Darius the great defeated the revolution vowed to destroy athens- in 490 bc 25000Persians landed on Marathon met by 10000 athenians athens won after several hours 6000 Persians died only 200 Athenians. Why-phalanx was successful Persians couldnt fight in the mountains persians wore very light armor and the athenians were fighting for homeland. Athenians left their city without protection Pheidippides ran 26 miles to tell of the victory small army in athens tried to defend when full army came the persians fled again Xerxes, was darius the great's son had become he successor of the persian army tried to do what his father couldn't some city states thought they should defend athens and some wanted to let it burn-some defected to persia-battle of Thermopylae 7000 greeks and 300 spartans stood in xerxes huge armys way to athens defend path for 3 days traitor told xerxes there was a secret pass to fight from both directions Spartans told Greeks to flee and the 300 spartans stayed all 300 died including king leonidas made great impression on greeks allowed greeks to retreat showed what xerxes was up against battle of salamis- final battle- greeks abandoned athens wanted to fight at sea 1/3 of xerxes army was killed-lasting effects of the Persian war-Delian league was created an alliance to keep persians out of all of greece Athens was the head of the league hq there gave athenians much power and pushed them into the golden age