Persian War Timeline

By sophiahalsey
  • 650 BCE

    Greek cities start to fall to Persian Empire

    Greek cities start to fall to Persian Empire
    Darius I was conquering everything at the time. This includes the Ionian states of greece
  • Period: 559 BCE to 331 BCE

    Persian Empire

    founded by Cyrus II the Great (unified empire w/ 1 king) made religion Zoroastrian --> monotheistic, by worshipping Ahuramazda successful: ruled w/ light touch, conquered kingdoms, kept kings and elites, loyalty to shah, paid their REASONABLE taxes
  • Period: 522 BCE to 486 BCE

    Darius the Great (r.)

    Persian leader. improved infrastructure: roads, built canals, pony express to Africa, Asia, and Europe freedom of religion: didn't convert ppl who were conquered to Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism forbades slavery, pax persica (persian peace)
  • 499 BCE

    Beginning of Persian War

    Beginning of Persian War
    Ionian cities tried to revolt against their capturers (unsuccessful, AKA the Ionian Revolt) Athenian Navy tried to assist the Ionian Cities - unsuccessful Both of these events angers Darius the Great --> seeks revenge The revenge? The battle of Marathon/the First Persian War
  • 490 BCE

    Ionian Revolt + Battle of Marathon

    Ionian Revolt + Battle of Marathon
    Persians land on plains of Marathon --> 26 miles away from Athens Athenians = GREATLY outnumbered (6400 Persians vs 120 Athenians) Athenians somehow beat the Persians: by their position in the greek hills (they were on a hill so they could see everything coming) and their phalanx military structure. Impact: proved to the Athenians that the Persians can be defeated --> CONFIDENCE! fought off pro-persian faction
  • Period: 486 BCE to 465 BCE

    Xerxes I (r.)

    persian leader. Wants to avenge his father's (Darius) death --> athenians hear this so they stock up on their navy. Spartans unite w/ Athenians
  • 480 BCE

    Battle of Thermopylae/Second Persian War

    Battle of Thermopylae/Second Persian War
    Xerxes sends an army of 180k troops w/ 1000s of warships and supply vessels Greece Unites: athenians, spartans, and other poleis
    ONE GOAL: BEAT PERSIANS, Force of 7000, defend
    narrow mountain pass, Leodinas I is leading the greek
    forces Greece holds Persians off for 2 days Greek traitor shows the Persians the way through the narrow mountain pass Persians sneak attack Greece, they win the battle of thermopylae persians march south to athens and burn it to the ground
  • 480 BCE

    Battle of Salamis

    Battle of Salamis
    After the persians come to burn Athens, literally no one is there --> evacuation w/ navy to salamis Themosticles's great idea: They lure persian fleet into narrow strait between salamis and greek mainland,
    athenians pretended to sail away in fear, but since the strait was so narrow the persian ships blocked each other's way, so the greeks could sink each persian ship one by one, end up attacking persian boats w/ battering rams: SUNK PERSIAN NAVY AND GREECE WINS!
  • 479 BCE

    Battle of Plataea

    Battle of Plataea
    approx. the greeks had 100,000 men and united w/ each other and BEAT PERSIA!
  • 478 BCE

    Result of the Wars

    Result of the Wars
    Greek triumph by uniting! Following years: greeks defeat Persian forces in their own soil --> marks end of Persian invaders in greece Athens emerges from war as the strongest poleis --> form alliance called the delian league Athens slowly dominates the delian league --> creates empire and marks end of greek unity