Notes

• Ionia was in modern-day Turkey and was populated by Greek colonists under rule of the Persian Empire. Following a defeat in battle, Astragos (leader of Miletus) decided to get rid of the Persians before they got rid of him. He declared his city a free state and encouraged the rest of Ionia to revolt. Athens and Eritrea supported them. 
• Timeline of Ionian Revolt: 

  • Burning of Sardis 
  • On the way home, rebels were attacked and defeated by Persian calvary 
  • Two armies forced into a stalemate 
  • Ionians defeated in naval battle 
  • Miletus retaken by Persians, ending the Ionian revolt 
• Burning of Sardis: 

  Date: 494 BC 

  The Ionians burnt down Sardis, capital of Persia and King Darius’ favourite city. However, in the same year, the rebellion was put down. 
• King Darius was furious at the Athenians’ involvement in the rebellion and wanted revenge. 

  He sent envoys to Greece to demand “earth and water” as tokens of their submission. 

  • Some poleis give in including Aegina 
  • Sparta and Athens refused and executed the envoys. This breaks religious conventions that protect envoys. 
• The Greek city-states set up a congress to decide what to do next. This is called the Isthmus of Corinth: 

  • Sought to move past old resentments particularly between Athens and Aegina and between Sparta and Argos. 
  • Aimed to establish control; despite Athens’ protest Sparta was given control of army and navy. Other poleis did not trust Athens. 
  • Stiff penalties were agreed for any poleis that decided to medise. 
• Medise: allow Persians to gain control of their poleis. 

  E.g. Thessaly was shamed by not being included in the serpent collum after the Battle of Thermopylae. 
• Argos did not have a delegate that attended the Isthmus of Corinth, so Spartans visited them. However, a deal could not be agreed so Argos medised. 
• According to Herodotus, Athenians sent messengers to the oracle in Delphi to ask for advice... 

  This happened in Autumn of 481 BC. 

  Athens: Help! Please advise us, Oracle. 

  Oracle: You will be saved by wooden walls. 

  Themistocles, an Athenian general, believed this meant that the navy and ships were key to success. This was backed up with the fact that Persians needed boats to bring them supplies. 
• When was the battle of Marathon?

  490BC during the 1st Persian invasion
• Causes for the battle of Marathon: King Darius wanted revenge for the Ionian Revolt and the burning of Sardis
• Who fought in the Battle of Marathon?

  Athens and Platea Vs Persia
• What happened in the battle of Marathon?

  • Athens sent messenger to Sparta asking for help, but Sparta refused because they were celebrating a religious festival
  • Persians sailed to Marathon but Greeks blocked their exit, specifically choosing marshes and mountainous terrain.
  • Greeks lure Persians to attack weakened center then outflank them
• Outcome of the Battle of Marathon: Greek victory

  • Boost moral for Greeks
  • Persians driven out of mainland Greece for 10 years
  • However, the Athenian general, Miltiades fined and imprisoned later for failed mission
• When was the Battle of Thermopylae?

  480BC during the 2nd Persian invasion of Greece and occurred simultaneously with the Battle of Artemisium
• Causes for the Battle of Thermopylae: King Darius died and his son, Xerxes, built up Persian force whilst the different Greek polies formed an alliance at the Isthmus of Corinth
• Who fought in the Battle of Thermopylae?

  Greek city-states Vs Persians
• Key Events of the Battle of Thermopylae:

  • Greeks tried to block pass of Thermopylae and were successful until local man revealed secret path to Persians
  • Most Greeks retreated to Salamis however King Leonidas and 300 Spartans stayed and fought in the last stand however all were killed
• Outcome of the Battle of Thermopylae: Persian victory

  • Retreat of Greek troops to Salamis
  • Persians capture Boeotia and Attica including Athens
• When was the Battle of Artemisium?

  480BC - during a series naval battle occurring across 3 days and simultaneously with BoT
• Causes of the Battle of Artemisium: See BoT
• Who fought in the Battle of Artemisium?

  Greek city-states Vs Persians
• Key Events of the Battle of Artemisium:

  • While approaching Artemisium, Persian navy was caught in a storm and lost 1/3 of their ships
  • Once they arrived, Persians sent 200 ships to coast of Euboea in an attempt to trap Greeks however were shipwrecked again
  • The actual battle was pretty even
  • However, due to losses and following on from news of loss at Thermopylae, Greek forces were forced to retreat to Salamis
• Outcomes of the Battle of Artemisium: Persian victory
• When was the Battle of Salamis?

  480BC - naval battle after BoT and BoA
• Causes for the Battle of Salamis: Themistocles was eager to fight at Salamis to prevent Greek returning to their own poleis so sent a messenger to lure Xerxes into attack.
• Who fought in the Battle of Salamis?

  Greek city-states Vs Persians
• Key Events in the Battle of Salamis:

  • Xerxes was advised by Artemisia not to attack
  • However, Xerxes ignored this, because they had to Greeks blocked in, and rowed into a stratis (narrow part of the sea)
  • The Persian navy struggled to maneuver in cramped conditions and became disorganized
  • This was emphasized by feigned retreat and wind change
  • Greeks took advantage and destroyed Persian fleet
• Outcomes of the Battle of Salamis: Greek victory

  • Persians withdrew from Attica
  • Xerxes and majority of army fled back to Asia (with help of Themistocles) leaving Mardonius behind