The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

559 B.C. – 330 B.C.559 B.C. – 330 B.C.

Cyrus the Great!Cyrus the Great!

I.I. Cyrus the Great (559 – 530 B.C.)Cyrus the Great (559 – 530 B.C.)A.A. United many local tribes into the United many local tribes into the

largest empire of the world - The largest empire of the world - The Persian Empire! Persian Empire!

B.B. Cyrus also allowed conquered Cyrus also allowed conquered people to continue to practice their people to continue to practice their customs and religious beliefscustoms and religious beliefs

C.C. Ended the Babylonian Captivity Ended the Babylonian Captivity D.D. This began the Persian tradition of This began the Persian tradition of

treating conquered people treating conquered people honorably and with mercy (Jews)honorably and with mercy (Jews)

King DariusKing Darius

II.II. Darius (521 B.C. – 486 B.C.)Darius (521 B.C. – 486 B.C.) A.A. Unites Persia once again after Unites Persia once again after

massive fighting after Cyrus diesmassive fighting after Cyrus diesB.B. Begins building a new city at Begins building a new city at

Persepolis and The Royal Road which Persepolis and The Royal Road which is used for transportation of goods is used for transportation of goods and messages to unite the empireand messages to unite the empire

C.C. Expands and reorganizes his empire Expands and reorganizes his empire into provinces called into provinces called satrapiessatrapies to to better govern the massive amount of better govern the massive amount of land. We borrow this concept (States)land. We borrow this concept (States)

The Persian WarsThe Persian Wars

Battle of Marathon Battle of Marathon (Darius)(Darius)

Battle of Salamis Battle of Salamis (Xerxes)(Xerxes)

The Father of History!The Father of History!

Today, we Today, we know about know about these battles these battles because of the because of the Greek historian Greek historian HerodotusHerodotus

HerodotusHerodotus A.A. ““The Father of History”The Father of History”

B.B. Wrote about the history of the Persian Wrote about the history of the Persian Wars, Egypt and GreeceWars, Egypt and Greece

C.C. Interviewed people who lived through the Interviewed people who lived through the events – first hand accounts!events – first hand accounts!

D.D. Wrote in an interesting style to please Wrote in an interesting style to please readers – writings gained popularity!readers – writings gained popularity!

E.E. Gave both sides of an account Gave both sides of an account

F.F. His accuracy is sometimes questioned as His accuracy is sometimes questioned as he may not have checked factshe may not have checked facts

III.III. The Battle of MarathonThe Battle of MarathonA.A. King Darius wants King Darius wants

to defeat Greeks to defeat Greeks for interfering with for interfering with this kingdomthis kingdom

B.B. Persians greatly Persians greatly outnumber the outnumber the AtheniansAthenians

C.C. Athenians win Athenians win because of better because of better armor, strategy and armor, strategy and the phalanxthe phalanx

The first Marathon!The first Marathon!A marathon today is A marathon today is named after the legendary named after the legendary runner runner PheidippidesPheidippides

Legend has it that he ran Legend has it that he ran from Marathon to Athens from Marathon to Athens (about 26 miles) to (about 26 miles) to announce victory and announce victory and warn them of Persian warn them of Persian attackattack

He then collapsed and He then collapsed and died from exhaustion.died from exhaustion.

IV.IV. King XerxesKing XerxesA.A. Son of Son of

Darius who Darius who lost the lost the Battle of Battle of MarathonMarathon

B.B. Wanted to Wanted to avenge his avenge his father’s loss father’s loss and defeat and defeat the Greeks.the Greeks.

Xerxes in the movie Xerxes in the movie 300300

Xerxes invades Greece!Xerxes invades Greece!A.A. Xerxes brings an overwhelming Xerxes brings an overwhelming

Persian army into GreecePersian army into Greece

B.B. However, have an extremely difficult However, have an extremely difficult time invading because they have to time invading because they have to pass through a very narrow pass through a very narrow passageway called at Thermopylaepassageway called at Thermopylae

C.C. This is the famous stand of the 300 This is the famous stand of the 300 Spartan soldiers who hold off Xerxes Spartan soldiers who hold off Xerxes while the other Greeks retreat.while the other Greeks retreat.

Xerxes is on the move!Xerxes is on the move!After finally getting through the pass After finally getting through the pass at Thermopylae, Xerxes arrives at at Thermopylae, Xerxes arrives at Athens to find the city desertedAthens to find the city deserted

He loots the Acropolis and burns the He loots the Acropolis and burns the city to the ground.city to the ground.

He then prepares his naval fleet for He then prepares his naval fleet for the decisive battle to defeat the the decisive battle to defeat the Greeks!Greeks!

Themistocles saves Greece!Themistocles saves Greece!A.A. Athens retreat Athens retreat

from their city and from their city and Xerxes burns it to Xerxes burns it to the ground the ground

B.B. Under the Under the leadership of leadership of Themistocles Themistocles the the Greeks come up Greeks come up with one final plan with one final plan to save their way to save their way of life!of life!

The Greeks defeat PersiaThe Greeks defeat PersiaA.A. The Greeks decide to lure the The Greeks decide to lure the

Persians into the Straight of Salamis Persians into the Straight of Salamis so that they could better fight the so that they could better fight the PersiansPersians

B.B. The Greek navy is made up of small The Greek navy is made up of small ships that can easily outmaneuver ships that can easily outmaneuver the huge Persian fleet.the huge Persian fleet.

C.C. The Persian Wars end and Greece The Persian Wars end and Greece enters into a “Golden Age”enters into a “Golden Age”

Greek Greek TriremeTrireme

V.V. Fall of the Persian EmpireFall of the Persian EmpireA.A. Defeated Persians return homeDefeated Persians return home

B.B. High taxes angered subjects and led High taxes angered subjects and led to rebellions against the throneto rebellions against the throne

C.C. 6 of next 9 kings murdered = 6 of next 9 kings murdered = instability in the governmentinstability in the government

D.D. Alexander the Great took advantage Alexander the Great took advantage of their weakened state and of their weakened state and conquered another King Darius and conquered another King Darius and the Persian Empirethe Persian Empire