War in Ancient Greece

Warfare was common in Ancient Greece, often over land and resources

The Persians conquered the Greek City-State of Ionia between 546 and 500 BCE.

The Ionians were helped by the Athenians and rebelled against the Persians, burning down the Persian city of Sardis

In retaliation for the rebellion, the Persians sailed 20,000 soldiers to Athens and met on a battlefield called Marathon.

The Athenians were outnumbered two to one, but using the element of surprise by attacking at dawn with well-trained Phalanxes, the Persians retreated

The word “Marathon” (a challenging foot race) comes from a legend that tells of a messenger who died after running 26 miles to carry the news of the battle’s victory back to Athens

Xerxes started the Second Persian War. He took 100,000 men from across Persia and Egypt and ships from Phonecia and attacked at Sparta

The Spartan army, led by king Leonidas, held the Persians at bay for as long as they could

A Greek traitor showed the Persians a way behind the Spartan army

Using this information, the Persians overwhelmed the Spartans from both sides

After the defeat of the Spartans, the Persians marched on Athens but arrived to find the city empty as the citizens had retreated

Xerxes burned Athens, and sent his navy to chase the Greek navy, which they outnumbered three to one

Themistocles set a trap He hid his ships until the Persians were trapped in the narrow body of water called the Strait of Salamis

Greeks were able to destroy the Persian ships since they were trapped at the Battle of Salamis

After meeting once again on land, the Persians were again defeated and forced to retreat