The+Persian+Wars

The Persian Wars

Late in the summer of 490 BCE the persian fleet sailed along the Athenian coast and landed on the plain of Marathon.

The Athenians had been expecting this because nine years earlier the Athenians and other Greek city states such as nearby Eretria sent aid to their brothers in Asia-minor to support them in their revolt against the Persian king. Within 5 years the Persian army crushed the revolt and turned their attention to punishing Athens.

The Persian forces outnumbered the athenians immensely. The athenians sent out their small force to the plain of marathon along with 1000 men from the allied city of plataea. When the battle joined, the athenian force fought valiantly against the oncoming persian invasion. The persians broke through the athenians line of defense however they lost because of the athenians pincer movement. At the end of the day 6400 persians and 192 athenians lay dead on the field.

The conquest of athens was part of the persian plan to take over all of greece. The greeks lived in independent city-states. Now they had to face the Persian forces united. After the persians had eradicated all else they moved on to crush athens. Soon after the athenians had evacuated every woman and child those who were able to fight jumped into boats and took the fight out to the persian ships in the bay of Salamis. Their courage and daring was rewarded for they won the war.

The next year, under the leadership of sparta, the city with the finest army defeated the persian army on the battlefield of plataea. Athens had been destroyed but not the athenians so they rebuilt their city and later founded the Delian league.media type="youtube" key="cPUo7b-QVjo" height="349" width="425"