yr 7 adapted

1. The Greco-Persian Wars

2. • Dominated the middle east c. 550-330
BC
• Expanded from small base near city of
Parsa
• Incorporated various ethnic groups
• Well-run and well-administered via
cuneiform script
• System of coinage, royal roads and post
• Tolerant: each province kept its own
language, religion, some of its laws
• All owed allegiance to the Shahanshah
(King of Kings)
The Achaemenid Persians

8. The Timeline
499
BCE
479 BCE
Ionian
Revolt
Begins
Battle of
Marathon
490
BCE
Battle of
Thermopylae
Battle of
Salamis
480
BCE
Battle of
Plataea
Second
Invasion -
Darius
Third
Invasion -
Xerxes
First
Invasion
- Darius

9. • The Persians had conquered
the Greek city-states along
the Ionian coast
• The Ionians rebelled
• Debate over whether this
was due to discontent or
the stirring up of
Aristagoras
• The Spartans refused to
help. The Athenians sent
some ships and an
expeditionary force and
burned down Sardis
Ionian Revolt

19. What evidence do we have?
• Archaeological sites: buildings, battlefields
• Contemporary art
• Archaeological artefacts
• Written sources
– Mostly Greek sources
– main focus is the relations between Persia and the
Greek states
– Aim is to show Persians as immoral or overly
focused on luxuries

28. Effects of Persian wars
• Persians did not consider it a defeat – Spartans
defeated, Athens burned, Eritreans enslaved
• When Greece gained control of Mediterranean
trade routes
• Athens emerged most powerful polis
• Athens was rebuilt and entered a ‘golden age’
• Athens was able to unite many poleis in a defence
league
• Sparta became suspicious and formed its own
alliances