The Greek WorldThe Greek World

Greece and PersiaGreece and Persia

Persia Becomes an EmpirePersia Becomes an Empire The Persians fought other peoples of The Persians fought other peoples of

Southwest Asia in early history. The Southwest Asia in early history. The Medes would rule over them for about 150 Medes would rule over them for about 150 years until 550 BC when Cyrus II led a years until 550 BC when Cyrus II led a revolt.revolt.

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great The revolt was The revolt was

successful and successful and brought independence brought independence for Persia and marked for Persia and marked the beginning of the the beginning of the Persian Empire. Cyrus Persian Empire. Cyrus would go on to would go on to conquer much of conquer much of Southwest Asia Southwest Asia including nearly all of including nearly all of Asia Minor.Asia Minor.

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great Several Greek cities Several Greek cities

were included in the were included in the conquest. He also conquest. He also took Mesopotamia and took Mesopotamia and then moved east to then moved east to Central Asia to Syr Central Asia to Syr Darya. When Cyrus Darya. When Cyrus died in 529 BC, He died in 529 BC, He ruled the largest ruled the largest empire the world had empire the world had seen to that date.seen to that date.

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great Cyrus let the Cyrus let the

people he people he conquered keep conquered keep their own customs, their own customs, thinking this may thinking this may make them less make them less likely to rebel – it likely to rebel – it worked! Few will worked! Few will rebel and his rebel and his empire remained empire remained strong.strong.

The Persian ArmyThe Persian Army

Cyrus’s army was Cyrus’s army was strong because it strong because it was well organized was well organized and loyal. The and loyal. The heart of the army heart of the army were the were the Immortals, 10,000 Immortals, 10,000 elite soldiers elite soldiers chosen for their chosen for their bravery.bravery.

Persian ArmyPersian Army The army also had The army also had

a powerful cavalry a powerful cavalry – units of horse – units of horse soldiers. Cyrus soldiers. Cyrus used the cavalary used the cavalary to charge the to charge the opposition and opposition and shoot them with shoot them with arrows, weakening arrows, weakening them for the them for the Immortals attack.Immortals attack.

Persian Empire Grows StrongerPersian Empire Grows Stronger

The empire would The empire would continue to grow continue to grow under Cyrus’s son, under Cyrus’s son, Chambyses rule – Chambyses rule – Egypt for example. Egypt for example. However, rebellion However, rebellion in the empire did in the empire did come and come and Chambyses would Chambyses would die during the die during the revolt.revolt.

Darius the OrganizerDarius the Organizer

Chambyses death left Chambyses death left Persia without a Persia without a chosen leader. Soon, chosen leader. Soon, a young prince named a young prince named Darius I would claim Darius I would claim the throne, killing all the throne, killing all of his rivals for power. of his rivals for power. Darius would restore Darius would restore order and work to order and work to improve Persian improve Persian society and expand society and expand the empire.the empire.

Political OrganizationPolitical Organization

Darius divided the empire into 20 Darius divided the empire into 20 provinces. He then chose governors or provinces. He then chose governors or satraps to rule for him. The satraps satraps to rule for him. The satraps collected taxes, served as judges and collected taxes, served as judges and quashed rebellion in their provinces. quashed rebellion in their provinces. Although the satraps had great power, Although the satraps had great power, Darius was the main guy. His officials Darius was the main guy. His officials visited the provinces to ensure the satraps visited the provinces to ensure the satraps remained loyal. He was the king of kings!remained loyal. He was the king of kings!

Persian SocietyPersian Society

Darius made many improvements to Darius made many improvements to Persian society. He built roads to connect Persian society. He built roads to connect all parts of the empire and improve all parts of the empire and improve communication. The Royal Road was 1700 communication. The Royal Road was 1700 miles long.miles long.

Persian SocietyPersian Society He built a new capital, Persepolis, to reflect the He built a new capital, Persepolis, to reflect the

glory of his empire. He filled the city with great glory of his empire. He filled the city with great works of art. A new religion, Zoroastrianism, works of art. A new religion, Zoroastrianism, taught that there were 2 forces, one good and taught that there were 2 forces, one good and one evil, fighting for control of the universe.one evil, fighting for control of the universe.

Persian ExpansionPersian Expansion

Darius wanted to Darius wanted to expand the empire expand the empire and conquered the and conquered the entire Indus Valley. entire Indus Valley. He wanted to He wanted to move west to move west to Europe, however, a Europe, however, a rebellion would rebellion would interfere with his interfere with his plans.plans.

The Persians Fight GreeceThe Persians Fight Greece In 499 BC, several In 499 BC, several

Greek cities in Asia Greek cities in Asia Minor, will rebel Minor, will rebel against Persian rule. against Persian rule. A few city states in A few city states in mainland Greece sent mainland Greece sent soldiers to help. The soldiers to help. The Persians put down the Persians put down the revolt, but Darius was revolt, but Darius was mad. He swore to get mad. He swore to get revenge on the Greeks revenge on the Greeks that sent help.that sent help.

Battle of MarathonBattle of Marathon Nine years after the Nine years after the

Greek rebellion, Greek rebellion, Darius invaded Darius invaded Greece. The army Greece. The army sailed to the plains of sailed to the plains of Marathon near Athens. Marathon near Athens. This invasion started This invasion started a series of war that a series of war that would become known would become known as the Persian Wars.as the Persian Wars.

Battle of MarathonBattle of Marathon The Athenian army The Athenian army

had only 11,000 and had only 11,000 and the Persians had the Persians had 15,000 – however, the 15,000 – however, the Greeks would win the Greeks would win the battle due to superior battle due to superior weapons and clever weapons and clever leaders. Legend says leaders. Legend says a messenger ran from a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens, a Marathon to Athens, a distance of just over distance of just over 26 miles to bring news 26 miles to bring news of the victory – he of the victory – he would then fall to the would then fall to the ground and die.ground and die.

The Second Invasion of GreeceThe Second Invasion of Greece

Ten years after the Ten years after the Battle of Marathon, Battle of Marathon, Darius’s son, Xerxes I, Darius’s son, Xerxes I, tried to conquer tried to conquer Greece again. In 480 Greece again. In 480 BC he sent both the BC he sent both the Persian army and Persian army and navy. The Athenians navy. The Athenians would be joined by the would be joined by the Spartans, the Spartans, the strongest army in strongest army in Greece.Greece.

The Second InvasionThe Second Invasion The Spartans sent The Spartans sent

1400 soldiers to 1400 soldiers to Thermopylae, a Thermopylae, a narrow mountain pass narrow mountain pass to slow the Persians. to slow the Persians. They held them for 3 They held them for 3 days. The Persians days. The Persians had a traitorous Greek had a traitorous Greek soldier to lead them soldier to lead them through a different through a different pass. The large pass. The large Persian force attacked Persian force attacked from behind and from behind and defeated the Spartans.defeated the Spartans.

The Second InvasionThe Second Invasion

After defeating the After defeating the Spartans, they Spartans, they would head to would head to Athens and burn it Athens and burn it down. Still, the down. Still, the Athenians defeated Athenians defeated the Persian navy at the Persian navy at the narrow strait of the narrow strait of Salamis using a Salamis using a clever ploy.clever ploy.

SalamisSalamis

The strait was so The strait was so narrow and the narrow and the Persians had so Persians had so many ships, they many ships, they found it almost found it almost impossible to impossible to navigate and the navigate and the smaller Athenian smaller Athenian boats sank the boats sank the Persians easily.Persians easily.

Sail No MoreSail No More

Soon after the Battle of Salamis, an army Soon after the Battle of Salamis, an army of soldiers from all over Greece defeated of soldiers from all over Greece defeated the Persians at Plataea, thus ending the the Persians at Plataea, thus ending the Persian Wars and sending the Persians Persian Wars and sending the Persians home. home.

For the Persians, it was a small bump as For the Persians, it was a small bump as their empire remained strong for over a their empire remained strong for over a century. For the Greeks, it was a triumph century. For the Greeks, it was a triumph as they saved their homeland.as they saved their homeland.

To Sum Up …To Sum Up …

Exit: Why did Persia want Greece?Exit: Why did Persia want Greece?

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