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Ancient Greece

The Persian Wars

The Persian Wars (490-479 BC) Herodotus, a Greek scholar, tells the full story of the Persian Wars. He is considered to be the first historian. Persians blocked the entrance to the Hellespont, keeping Athens from trading in the Black Sea. The Persians controlled former Greek city-states in Asia Minor. This was a clash between East and West. Greeks had a variety of governments in which the citizens generally could participate. In Persia, the ruler was absolute.

Sequence of the War 1.

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Greeks defeat Persians at Marathon. 10,000 Athenians defeat 25,000 Persians. Persians try to defeat Athens, but fail. The Persians wouldn’t attack again until 10 years later. In 480 BC, the Spartans fight a delaying action at Thermopylae. Leonidas holds off the Persians with 300 Spartans. Persian soldiers occupied Athens and completely burned it. The Greeks would then decide to meet the Persians at sea.

Sequence of the War 5. 6.

City-states in Asia Minor revolt. Persian fleet is defeated at sea in the Battle of Salamis. Xerxes watches as Persians are defeated by better navigable Greek ships.

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Emperor Xerxes returns to Persia after defeat at sea with half of the Persian army.

8.

The remaining half of the Persian army is defeated at the Battle of Plataea ending the second Persian invasion.

Outcome of the War 1.

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140 Greek city-states combined to form the Delian League, designed to prevent future Persian attacks. Athens served as the leading city. City-states were forced to pay yearly dues to Athens, which used force when needed to keep the allies in line. The Delian League just became another name for the Athenian empire. Athens would soon enter its golden age lasting from 480 to 430 BC.