Persian Wars

Cyrus the Great

• 559 B.C.-530 B.C.
• Cyrus was a leader who united the Persians.
• Under his rule, Persia became a strong empire.

Darius (521 B.C.)

• Darius reorganized the government. 
• He divided the empire into 20 provinces called satrapies.
• Each satrapie was ruled by a satrap.
• He made the government pay soldiers.

Zoroastrianism (660 B.C.)

• This was the official religon of Persia.
• Zoraster founded this religon.
• They believed in one god.
• They believed this power created everything.

Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.)

• This battle occured on the plain of Marathon.
• The Persian soldiers waited for the Athenians here.
• From a hill above, the Athenians watched.
• The chief commander got tired of waiting and got on the ships.
• When the soldiers were aboarding the boat, Athens attacked.

Themistocles (480 B.C.)

• He had a plan to attack the Persians ships.
• His strategy was to cut off the food supply.
• 7,000 soldiers waited for the Persians in a valley.
• A traitor directed them and they attacked to the death.

Pheidippides (490 B.C.)

• After the battle of Marathon, they sent him with a messege.
• He ran 26 miles. That is why we have marathons.
• When he arrived home, he said, "victory."
• Moments after he died from exhaustion.

Xerxes (486 B.C)

• Xerxes was Darius' son.
• He set out for revenge against the Athenians
• He suplied warships and supply vessels.

Thermopylae, Salamis, and Platea (480 B.C)

• Thermopylae- valley in mountains where the greek soldiers waited.
• Salamis- a strait where the Greeks faught the Persians
• Platea- the Greeks crushed the Persians because the Greeks united

Alexander the great

• He conquered the Persian lands.
• He was the last Persian king.
• (330 B.C.)