Transcript Persian Wars

Persian Wars
Part 1
Introduction
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDiUG5
2ZyHQ
Persian War
• At beginning of 5th BCE the Greek CityStates faced a serious threat, invasion by
the Persians.
• Persia was the largest of all the near
eastern-empires (ranging from Egypt to
India and the Persian Gulf to the Black
Sea).
Persian Wars
Mighty Empire of Persia (Iran) controls much of the
Middle East and the Mediterranean. Can you find
Greece?
http://www.teachinghearts.org/dr0imappersia.gif
Where to go next….?
Persian Wars
Mighty Persian Empire
Versus
Greeks Small, scattered independent city-states that
fought each other = weak and obviously “easy pickings”
Just need an excuse to attack….
Persian Wars
City of Miletus tired of being under Persian control…
Tries to join Greeks. Persians furious and attack
Greece
Miletus
Athens decides to help, destroys Persian fleet
www.dimitris.gr/.../ maps/map_miletus.jpg
Persian Wars
Persians furious at loss, but happy with thoughts of
using revenge as an excuse to take over Greeks….
Greece
Miletus
Persian Wars
Persian leader, Darius, sends huge Persian naval fleet
of 600 vessels to attack and destroy Athens….
•Persian navy hit by huge storm…..loses over ½ fleet!?!
•Darius You Greeks are lucky, we’ll get you!
•Athens Sea Gods are on our side!
http://www.carteretcountyschools.org/wchs/teachers/cwertz/images/Today'71.jpg
Persian Wars
Takes Darius 2 more years to build another fleet to send..
http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~warfare/Lectures/Images/3.27/07_trireme_oar_system.jpg
Persian Wars
http://www.rom.gr/ROM7/images/afisa01.jpg
Persian Wars
Meanwhile….
Darius demands that all Greek city-states apologize.
Sends messengers to each city-state to collect “Earth & Water”
As a symbol of their submission.
Most Greek Polis, fearful of Darius’s wrath, agree…
Earth
+
But not all…..
Who do you think will refuse?
Water
Persian Wars
Spartans consider Persian messenger’s request……
And…
Decide to throw him into a deep well….
There’s your earth and water!
http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/chpi/well.jpg
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR0Uke2XNI
Persian Wars
Darius furious….sends another 600 ships
http://www.productionpost.com/trireme_A.jpg
Persian Wars
http://www.geocities.com/ancientgreece2001/marathon.jpg
Persians attack at the Plains of Marathon, near Athens
Persian Wars
Plains of Marathon
http://www.greecetaxi.gr/Marathon/Marathon01.JPG
Persian Wars
Athenians see the huge amount of ships and panic.
Send a runner (Pheidippides) from the
plains of Marathon to Sparta (125kms one way) to
request help. Spartans agree.
http://www.ananova.com/images/web/114098.jpg
Pheidippides runs back to warn Athenians.
Does all this in 2 days. (250kms total!!!)
Pheidippides arrives, gives message, collapses and dies.
Today, the sport of “Marathon running” continues!
Persian Wars~ The Battle of Marathon
Persians
Athens
20,000
Hoplites
9600
5000
Cavalry
0
600
Fleet
0
Prediction…???
http://www.military-art.com/images/dhm1131.jpg
Persian Wars
http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/atlases/ancient_warfare/battle_marathon_initial.html
Persian Wars
Athenians:
•Heavily outnumbered
•No cavalry
•No archers
•No allied support for many days….
•What to do…? What to do….?
ATTACK!
Surprised the Persians
And
Used flanking manoeuvre to force Persians
Into middle and be surrounded.
http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040719/images/marathon.jpg
Persian Wars
http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/atlases/ancient_warfare/battle_marathon_envelopment.html
Another view
http://www1.fhw.gr/chronos/04/en/politics/320exw_persia.html
Persian Wars
Athenians win….BIG TIME!
6400+ Persians killed
Vs
192 Athenians….
Remaining Persians flee to safety of ships
Persian Wars
Persian Wars
The Persians are frustrated with loss…..now what?
They decide to sail towards Athens.
Meanwhile, Athenian soldiers trot back to city to celebrate success
When Persians arrive at city and see the same winning army,
They head back home in despair, not willing to fight same killers
again.
192 dead buried in ceremonial funeral mound which is
still there today!
http://www.greekislands.com/athens/e_attca3.jpg
Persian Wars
http://lilt.ilstu.edu/drjclassics/lectures/history/PersianWars/attica38MID.jpg
http://www.wheelerexpeditions.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/MOUND.jpg
Persian Wars
Persian Wars
The Battle of the Marathon Plains is over.
But.....
The war with the Persians isn’t……