PERSIAN WARS

Persians - around 520 BCE, conquered the Greeks who had settled in
Ionia.
- Were known for their tolerance of the diverse cultures of their
subject people.
Persian forces – sought the aid of Athens which in turn sent ships and
men to augment the forces of the Ionian Greeks.
Darius – Persian emperor, launched an invasion of Greece in 490 BCE
sending about 25,000 men across the Aegean Sea to engage the Greeks
in the Battle of Marathon.
Xerxes – the son of Darius the Great, took up his father’s place after he
died and launched a second invasion of Greece.
- Assembled 150,000 strong army supported by 600 ships.
Thermopylae - a narrow mountain pass the North of Athens.
Loenidas - a warrior king of the Greek city-state of Sparta, who led the
combined forces of the Greeks.
Themistocles - an Athenian politician and general, who rallied the
Athenians to evacuate the city and to engage the Persians on the seas.
Delian League – its primary purpose was to defend the independence of
Greek cities from the Persians.
- The Athenian navy became the backbone of the League’s
military force.
- The Delian League became the precursor of the Athenian
empire.