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Darius I was conquering everything at the time. This includes the Ionian states of greece -
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
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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)
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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 -
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 -
persian leader. Wants to avenge his father's (Darius) death --> athenians hear this so they stock up on their navy. Spartans unite w/ Athenians
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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 -
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! -
approx. the greeks had 100,000 men and united w/ each other and BEAT PERSIA! -
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