new technology
During the Dorian age, only the rich could afford to fight because armor was expense(made of bronze). Iron replaced bronze and it was better and cheaper so the common man could arm himself.
Phalanx- fighting formation shield in one hand, spear in another
Persian War
Greece vs. Persian Empire
began in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia
Persians conquered Greece by 546 B.C.
Ionian Greeks revolted- Athens sent soldiers to help, Darius the Great(King of Persia) put down the revolt and vowed to destroy Athens
In 490 b.c. the Persians brought 25,000 men to Marathon to fight 10,000 Athenians. After several hours of fighting, Persia fled and lost 6000 and Athens lost 2000
Athenians won because of the Phalanx, Persians were not well trained in land fighting, Persians were very light armor which could not stand up to iron and bronze weapons, Athenians fighting for homeland.
Even though Athenians won, the Persians attacked Athena. According to tradition, a runner ran 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to warn the small army at Athena.
Xerxes, Darius the Great's son, became the successor of the Persian Army. He brought an enormous army to destroy Athens.
Greeks- Some city-states were divided on how to handle the situation
- some defended Athens
- some left Athens out to dry
- Some fought with the Persians
Battle of Thermopylae
- fought in a narrow mountain pass
- 7,000 Greeks and 300 Spartans stood in the way of Xerxes on the push to get to Athens
- Xerxes underestimated them, so they lost a lot of men by sending inexperienced troops
- A traitor went to Xerxes and informed him of a secret path around the pass
- the Spartans knew they would lose, so they sent the Greeks home, and fought the troops, but all 300 died
Spartan sacrifice
- made great impression on Greeks
- Allowed remaining Greeks to retreat and fight again
- showed Xerxes what he was up against
Battle of Salamis
- Greeks abandoned Athens, because they though fighting at sea was their best chance
- Xerxes lost 1/3 of his fleet and then he was killed when he got back to Persia
Effects of Persian War
Delian League was created. (Alliance of Greek city-states to push the Persians out of Greece
Athenians were head of the league and HQ was in Athens
Gave Athens power and helped push them into their golden age.
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