Greco-Persian Wars

By jfitzpatrick1
  • 546 BCE

    Persians Capture Ionia

    The Persian Empire, led by King Darius, capture the Greek colony of Ionia, taking control of their harbors, and farmland and forcing them to pay tribute in goods.
  • 499 BCE

    The Ionian Revolt

    The Ionians reached out to the rest of Greece for help, and Athens sent soldiers who helped defeat the Persian army. After the initial success, the Athenian army headed back.
  • 493 BCE

    Ionian Punishment

    King Darius and the Persian Army recapture Ionia and punish them by destroying the city of Miletus.
  • 490 BCE

    The Battle of Marathon

    King Darius and the Persian army invade the Greek peninsula and meet the Athenian general Miltiades and his army on the Plain of Marathon. The Athenian Army was able to defeat the Persians with better equipment and military strategies.
  • 480 BCE

    The Battle of Thermopylae

    The new Persian King Xerxes vowed to avenge his father's defeat at Marathon by marching a huge army to Thermopylae, Greece. He was met by a much smaller force of Athenian and Spartan soldiers led by the Spartan King Leonidas. After an epic stand of 300 Spartans, the Persians won and continued their march to Athens.
  • 480 BCE

    The Battle of Salamis

    As the Athenians evacuated the city, King Xerxes proceeded to burn Athens to the ground. The fight for Greece continued on the water, as the Athenian navy, led by Themistocles proceeded to use lies, strategy, and geography to defeat the much larger Persian Navy.
  • 479 BCE

    The Battle of Platea

    As the Persian King Xerxes fled with some of his soldiers back to Asia, leaving the remaining army to attack Athens again. The Athenians, thought to be weakened by the destruction of Athens, surprised everyone, by joining forces with Sparta, and proceeded to defeat the Persian Army ending the Greco-Persian Wars.