The Persian War:
A Brief Summary

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1. The Ionian Revolt, 499-493

• Ionian cities revolted against Persian rule; aided by Athens
• Revolt successful at first but eventually crushed by Persians, who then turned to punishing the Athenians.

2. First Persian War, 490

• 490, Persian Emperor Darius sent small fleet across Aegean Sea to punish Athens
• Landed at Marathon on coast of Attica
• Athenian army won Battle of Marathon with expert use of the hoplite phalanx
• Persians left; stayed away for next 10 years because of internal difficulties in Persian Empire

3. Second Persian War, 480-79

• 480, new Persian Emperor Xerxes sent much larger expedition under his personal command across Hellespont into Greece
• Greek alliance (Hellenic League) led by Spartan King Leonidas met Persian force at narrow pass at Thermopylae in northern Greece
• Battle of Thermopylae:
  • Greeks held Persians off until they were betrayed and surrounded by the Persians
  • Leonidas sent the whole Greek army away except for 300 Spartans
  • They fought to the last man to delay the Persian advance
• Battle of Salamis
  • Themistocles, an Athenian strategos, convinced the Athenians to evacuate Athens
  • Women and children went to mainland
  • Men took fleet of triremes to island of Salamis
  • Outnumbered Athenian fleet defeated Persian fleet at Battle of Salamis because of the triremes’ superior speed and maneuverability
• Most of the surviving Persians returned to Persia; small remnant defeated by allied army of Athens and Sparta at hoplite Battle of Plataea, 479
• Athens then formed Delian League with Aegean islands to defend against future Persian invasion

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