Challenge of Persia - Why did Persia Fall 492-479BC

• GREEK UNITY - STATES WERE TOGETHER

  The Serpent Column - never before was there a mass amount of Greek states joined together to dedicate something to the Gods - at Delphi (usual to outdo each other with gifts) - Sparta, Athens, Corinth
• GREEK UNITY - LEONIDAS SENT FORCES AWAY TO SPARE THEM

  "the Spartans had been told ... either their city must be laid waste by the foreigner or a Spartan king be killed" - Herodotus Histories

  "he left glory behind him ... Sparta did not lose her prosperity" - Herodotus Histories
• GREEK UNITY - SPARTA AND ATHENS UNION

  "get your army into the field ... it will not be long before the enemy invades Attica" - Herodotus Histories

  "your kindness and thoughtfulness, and the offer you made to provide for our families in this time of distress" - Herodotus Histories
• PERSIAN DISUNITY - INSECURITY IN GREEK ALLIES

  Leotychides shouter at the Battle of Mycale 479BC

  "first act of the Persians ... was to disarm the Samians whom they suspected of sympathy with the Greek cause" - Herodotus Histories
• PERSIAN DISUNITY - XERXES

  "gave in and allowed himself to be persuaded" - Herodotus Histories
• PERSIAN DISUNITY - MARDONIUS

  "I will make it my duty ... to deliver Greece to you in chains" - Herodotus Histories

  "Mardonius' motive ... was love of mischief and adventure, and the hope of becoming governor of Greece" - Herodotus Histories
• ATHENIAN NAVAL POWER - SAVIOURS OF GREECE

  "Greece was saved by the Athenians" - Herodotus Histories

  "it was the Athenians - who - after the gods - drove back the Persian King" - Herodotus Histories

  "the Athenians ... held the balance: whichever side they joined was sure to prevail" - Herodotus Histories
• ATHENIAN NAVAL POWER - ADAPTED QUICKLY

  "the outbreak of this war at that moment saved Greece by forcing Athens to become a maritime power" - Herodotus Histories

  "127 ships from Athens" - Herodotus Histories -made up half of the entire greek force
• PERSIAN MOTIVATION - GREEK ALLIANCES

  The Serpent Column
• PERSIAN MOTIVATION - NOTHING COMPARED TO ATHENIAN DETERMINATION

  "so long as a single Athenian remains alive we will make no peace with Xerxes" - Herodotus Histories

  "there is not so much gold in the world nor land so fair that we would take it for pay to join the common enemy and bring Greece into subjection" - Herodotus Histories
• PERSIAN MOTIVATION - XERXES LEADERSHIP

  "Artemisia's advice ... was the expression of his own thoughts" - Herodotus Histories
• GREEK MOTIVATION - SPARTANS WERE TO THE DEATH

  "they will not under any circumstances accept terms from you which would mean slavery for Greece" - Herodotus Histories

  "they will fight you even if the rest of Greece submits" - Herodotus Histories

  "either their city must be laid waste by the foreigner or a Spartan King be killed" - Herodotus Histories
• GREEK MOTIVATION - ATHENS LACK OF FEAR

  "Persians ... thinking it suicidal madness for the Athenians to risk an assault with so small a force" - Herodotus Histories

  "the Athenians ... the first who dared to look without flinching at Persian dress and the men who wore it" - Herodotus Histories
• GREEK MOTIVATION - SOME STATES JUST WANTED TO SURVIVE

  "some had already made their submission, and were consequently in good spirits" - Herodotus Histories

  "others, who had refused to submit, were thrown into panic" - Herodotus Histories