The Persian Wars: -In about 500 BC, Greeks in Asia Minor rebelled against the Persians-Athens helped these city-states in their uprisings-This began a series of conflicts between Greece and Persia known as the Persian Wars-It lasted from about 500 BC to 479 BC (21 years)WARS UNDER DARIUS AND XERXES:-Darius, a Persian ruler:-easily crushed Greek revolts in Asia Minor-also wanted to punish Athens for helping the rebels-hoped to gain control of Greek mainland-in 492 BC, his forces conquered:-Thrace-Macedonia-in 490 BC, the Persians invaded Greece itself-the Athenians defeated the Persians-though the Athenians were outnumbered-in the Battle of Marathon-the Persians withdrew-an uneasy peace lasted for ten years (until 480 BC)-Xerxes, Darius’ son:-led an army and fleet against Greece; this time several Greek city-states united to stop the Persians-Persians had to advance through narrow mountain pass of Thermopylae-small force led by 300 Spartans met Persians there-held the pass for 3 days-Persians found another way through the mountains-surrounded the Greeks-Spartans refused to surrender-though greatly outnumbered-fought until they were all killed-Spartans’ courage bought time-for the other city-states to prepare their forces-at the Battle of Thermopylae-Persians marched toward Athens-Themistocles, Athens’ leader:- told the Athenians to leave the city to escape-Xerxes army entered Athens and destroyed it-Themistocles’ trick:-tricked Xerxes into attacking the Athenian fleet (in the narrow Salamis Strait)-Persian navy was larger and less navigatable than the Greek ships-the Greeks sank much of the Persian ships-In 479 BC, the Athenians and the Spartans joined forces:-to defeat the Persians-at Plataea (northwest of Athens)-ending the Persian WarsRESULTS OF THE PERSIAN WAR:-Persians:-meddled in Greek affairs-worked to prevent Greek unity-continued to threat Greeks with an invasion-Greeks:-success gave confidence-unity among the Greek city-states seemed necessary for survival-Athens:-rebuilt city-entered a period of great cultural achievement-began to create its own empire in the Aegean Sea-more successful than Sparta in leadership to unity-by using diplomacy-to form the Delian League-alliance of city-states with Athens as its leader-eventually included 140 other city-states-who each contributed-money or ships-money was kept on the island of Delos (which is were Delian is derived from)-by the 450s BC, Athens built an empire based on the Delian League-Sparta:-wanted Greek unity under its own leadership-however, fear of helot revolt stopped troops from going far for long

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