Greco-Persian WarsThe Last Stand of the 300

Cyrus the Great• Expanded Persia into the largest and most

successful of the Middle East empires.

Greek City-States

• Greece pop’n ~ 600 000… • Persian Empire consisting of millions of

different people.

Ionian Revolt

• 499 BCE – Greek colonists revolt • Athenians show up to help the Ionians and

burn the Persian city to the ground.

Failed Revenge at Marathon

• Darius sends a fleet of 30 000 Persians to attack the Greeks.

• The Greeks form a defensive line and stand strong.

Persian King Xerxes

• groomed to be a warrior king , for 10 years he planned his vengeful attack on Greece.

The Battle of Thermopylae

• The battle that would determine the course of western civilization and the fate of democracy

Land Battle

• At Thermopylae, a perfect battlefield for the Greeks, as it is a very narrow pass in which the army has to get through.

Spartans & Athenians

• Spartan King – Leonidas –was the general in charge

Naval Battle

• 200 Greek warships attempt to defend the strait, led by Themistocles…

• The Persian navy outnumbers them with 800 ships

Persian Technology• Xerxes planned on walking his troops across a

body of water called the Hellespont – a mile wide strip of water

Dual Attack

• Xerxes has marched nearly 300 000 men accompanied by 100 warships… in an attempt to sack Athens.

Greek Weaponry

• The Hoplites primary weapon is the 2-4lb “dory” – a spear with an iron butt on its back end.

Greek Weaponry

• The xiphos – sword made specifically for thrusting and hacking

Greek Weaponry

• Hoplon –shield made from a concave piece of wood and covered in bronze – weighed about 20 pounds.

Greek Weaponry

• Corinthian helmet –made from a single piece of bronze, offering maximum protection, but weighed about 10 pounds

Greek Weaponry

• Lamellar armour –strips of heavy linen, leather all sewn together could withstand an arrow… not a spear thrust.

Persian Weaponry

• Archers used Persian bows made of date palm wood.

Day One• On land, 300 Spartans and their Greek allies

killed thousands of Persians by the end of the first day.

Day One

• On water, 200 Greek warships vs 800 Persian ships

• Greek naval battles were about maneuvering the ships so you could ram and sink your enemy

Day Two• The “Immortals” - on land, these “faceless

and mute” Persian strongmen also fail to defeat the Greek forces.

Day Two

• Themistocles is still outnumbered 5 to 1, but the Greek triremes continue to destroy Persian warships