Persian War
New Technology
-During Dorian age only the rich could afford to buy the bronze weaponry and armor
-Iron was discovered allowed the common man to go out and fight
-new battle formation formed called the phalanx
Start of Persian War
-between Greece and Persian Empire
-first battle in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia
-Greeks settled there but Persians took over in 546 bc
-Ionian Greeks revolted
-Darius the Great defeated the revolt and vowed to destroy Athens
-490 B.C. Persian fleet of 25,000 men landed in an area called Marathon
-10,000 Athenians meet them there
-after hours of fighting
-Persians flee after losing 6000 lives
-Athenians lost 200
-Athenians used new formation (phalanx)
-Persians not well trained in this type of land fighting
-Persians also wore very light armor
-Athenians fighting on their home land
Marathon
-Even though Athenians won, they left their city without much defense
-according to tradition army leaders would send a runner to aler Athens of the battle
-Pheidippides was that runner
-He ran 26 miles from marathon to Athens
-Persians tried to quickly attack Athens after the battle but the Athenians had already returned
Ten years later
-Xerxes, Darius the Great’s son had become leader of the Persian army
-Brought an enormous army with him to complete the job
Greek Issues
-Greeks were divided on how to handle the Persian situation
-some thought they should fight and defend Athens
-some thought it wasn’t worth it and they should just give in
-some fought with the Persians
Thermopylae
-narrow mountain pass was setting battle
-7,000 Greeks and 300 Spartans stood in the way of Xerxes and his huge army on this to get to Athens
-Xerxes underestimated the Greeks and Spartans, they were able to hold their own
Lasting effect of Spartan sacrifice
-made a great impression on the Greeks
-allowed the remaining Greeks to retreat and fight the Persians again
-Showed Xerxes what he was up against
Battle of Salamis
-Greeks abandoned Athens, because they thought that fighting at sea was their best chance
-They were right, Xerxes as 1/3 of his fleet and men were sunk. Diminishing his army
Lasting Effects of Persian War
-Delian League was created
-Alliance of Greek-City states to continue push the Persians out of Greece
-Athenians was the head of the league and moved the headquarters to Athens
-This gave the Athenians of power and helped push them into their golden age
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