Background to the Persian Wars
Who was the king of Persia when the Persian Wars began?
Darius I
In what year did the Battle of Marathon take place?
490 BC
Who led the Greek forces at Thermopylae?
Leonidas
What type of battle was fought at Salamis?
Naval battle
In which year did the Battle of Plataea occur?
479 BC
What did Greeks call non-Greek people?
Barbarians
Which Greek city-state fought Persia at Marathon?
Athens (with some support from Plataea)
Which Persian king fought at Thermopylae?
Xerxes I
Who commanded the Greek navy at Salamis?
Themistocles
Who commanded the Greek forces at Plataea?
Pausanias
Which city was burned during the Ionian revolt?
Sardis
Who was the general leading the Athenian army at Marathon?
Miltiades
How many Spartans defended the pass at Thermopylae?
300
How did the narrow straits of Salamis help the Greeks defeat the Persians?
The narrow straits prevented the larger Persian fleet from maneuvering effectively
How did Persian raids impact the Greeks?
They cut off supply lines and water, causing the Greeks to reposition
Which Greek city state supported the Ionian Revolt?
Athens
Explain why the Athenian victory at Marathon was significant for the Greek city-states.
It showed that the Persians could be defeated and boosted Greek confidence and unity
What geographical feature made Thermopylae a strategic defensive location?
It was a narrow mountain pass, which limited the Persian advantage in numbers
What did Artemisia do?
Crashed into one of her own ships to get away from the Greeks.
Why did the Greek hoplites have an advantage over the Persians?
They had better weapons and armour
Name the Persian Empire’s primary reason for invading Greece.
To expand the Persian Empire and punish Athens for supporting the Ionian Revolt
What did Pheidippides do?
He ran to Athens do announce the victory... and then died :(
What did the Ephialtes do?
Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks by showing the Persians a path around the pass, allowing them to flank the defenders
What did Themistocles' messenger tell the Persians.
The Greek fleet are weak and exposed - now is the time to attack!
Why was Platea so important for the Greeks? Make 2 points.
- They had had won the final battle of the Persian Wars
- They demonstrated Greek unity
- It inspired future generations