Slide 1
Greece’s Finest Hours
Slide 2
Where is Persia?
Slide 3
Greeks had been settling on the west coast of Asia Minor (Persia)
Persia conquered these colonies
In 499 B.C. Greeks in these colonies revolted against Persian rule (they were used to ruling themselves—democracy)
Athens sent troops to support the revolt
Slide 4
Emperor Darius of Persia crushed the revolt rather quickly
He decided to punish Athens for helping the colonies
After training for a few years Darius sent troops to invade Greece
Sailed on to the Bay of Marathon
Slide 5
Athens asked Sparta to help, but Spartan troops would not arrive for 9 days (they were in the middle of religious festivals)
Other jealous city-states decided not to help Athens against the Persian Empire
So Athens took on the mighty Persian Empire by themselves
Slide 6
Persian troops—100,000
Athenian troops—20,000
Did Athens really have any hope against these odds?
Slide 7
The Athenian army was well-trained and did not break formation as they charged the Persian lines
The organized charge surprised the large but scattered (and poorly organized) Persian army
The Persian soldiers turned and ran from the oncoming Athenians
Slide 8
Slide 9
The Athenian army almost drove the Persians back to the sea
Final tally
Persians—6, 400 dead
Athens—192 dead
Darius returned to Persia never to return
Slide 10
The modern marathon has its roots in the Battle of Marathon
A Greek soldier, Phidippides, ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) to tell the Athenians of the Greek victory and to warn them that the Persians may try to attack
Phidippides died from exhaustion after delivering his message
Today’s 26 mile marathon races remember his heroic act of martyrdom
Slide 11