The Persian Empire and Persian Wars

Persia vs. Greece

The Extent of the Persian Empire

The Religions of Persia

• Zoroastrianism– Zoroaster, a Persian prophet– Struggle between evil and good, all are involved– Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda– Popular amongst Roman military

• Judaism

Remember Cyrus?• Developed a vast Persian Empire• First emperor of Persia• Conquered the Ionian Greeks

Cyrus’ Legacies• Religious Tolerance–Cyrus honored local religious customs–Welcomed Jews to return to Jerusalem

• Civility –Armies did not loot conquests–Kind toward conquered peoples

After Cyrus…• Darius seizes

throne in 522 BCE–Crushed revolts–Expands empire into Greece, farther into Egypt, farther north into central Europe

Key Player: Darius • Under Darius – Ionian Greeks rebelled

against Persia to gain independence• Athens helped the Ionian Greeks by

sending aid• Persia stopped the Ionian rebels and

wanted revenge on Athens for interfering with their personal business

Ionians lived here Ionians lived here →→

• As we read the selection, “The Persian Wars”, think about the causes of the wars, the important leaders and battles, and the effects of the wars.

The First Persian War: 491-490 BCE

Killing the messenger

Hoplite

Phalanx

Pheidippides running from Marathon

The Second Persian War 480-479 BCE

Xerxes

King Leonidas of Sparta at the battle of Thermopylae

Battle of Salamis

Battle of Plataea

The Aftermath: Effects of the War

• Both Athens and Sparta claim credit for victory over Persia = led to problems• Sparta was still very weak after Thermopylae• Athens emerges as the most powerful city-state (bully)• Athens creates the Delian League (alliance with other city states to protect themselves if Persia ever returns)• Athens rebuilds their city-state better than ever, and they experience a GOLDEN AGE.