The+Persian+Wars

= THE PERSIAN WARS =



Syllabus content

 * Origins of the conflict: Persian imperialism, the Ionian Revolt.
 * The invasion of 490 BC: the Battle of Marathon, the role of Miltiades.
 * The inter-war period: preparation and developments in Persian and Greece.
 * The invasion of 480-479 BC: the Battles of Thermopylai, Artemisium, Salamis, Plataea and Mycale.
 * The role and contribution of Themistocles, Leonidas, Pausanias and Eurybiades.
 * Reasons for Greek victory and Persian defeat.

Lesson Plans
A summary of what we have done in this topic can be accessed by clicking on

Maps and images

 * The Persian Empire at the time of Xerxes
 * The topography of Greece
 * Greece at the beginning of the 5th century
 * Athens in the 5th century - reconstruction
 * The Greek world during the Persian Wars
 * Greek and Persian weapons
 * Naval warfare during the Persian Wars
 * The Battle of Marathon - maps
 * The Second Persian War - maps

Videos

 * The Greeks: Crucible of Civilisation - episode 1: The Revolution. This video covers the establishment of democracy in Athens under Cleisthenes.
 * The Greeks: Crucible of Civilisation - episode 2: Golden AgeThis video covers the two Persian Wars and the activities of the Delian League. It is particularly good for the Battle of Salamis, but does not cover Thermopylae or Artemisium at all.
 * The Battle of Marathon
 * The Battle of Themopylae
 * The Battle of Salamis
 * The Battle of Plataea

Readings, notes and websites

 * Greece and Persia at the beginning of the 5th century
 * Historical sources on the Persian Wars
 * Key figures from the period

Summaries

 * Greece and Persia at the beginning of the 5th century - packages of information
 * Origins of the Persian Wars - packages of information
 * The invasion of 490 BC - packages of information
 * The inter-war period - packages of information
 * The invasion of 480-479 BC - packages of information

**Essay plans**

1. "Why did the Greeks win the Persian War of 480-79 BC?"

2. "To what extent was Themistocles responsible for the Greek victory in the Persian Wars?"

3. "Assess the importance of naval battles in the course of the Persian Wars."

4. "How important was unity to the Greek states in their victory over the Persians."

5. "To what extent were the Persians responsible for their own defeat in the Persian Wars?"

6. "Assess the contribution of Miltiades and Leonidas to the course of the Persian Wars."

**Model answers**

The essays below are about 600 words long - shorter than what is expected in the Ancient History exam but nonetheless very succinct. I have also included longer versions of some of these essays. The better students should consult both versions. If you can't write more than 600 words in 45 minutes (which will be the case for many of you), then stick with the shorter version of each essay. You'll still get a good mark.

1. "Evaluate the causes of the conflict between the Greeks and the Persians in this period." . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on

2. "Why did the Greeks win the Persian War of 480-79 BC?" . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on.

3. "To what extent was Themistocles responsible for the Greek victory in the Persian Wars?" . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on.

4. "Assess the importance of naval battles in the course of the Persian Wars." . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on.

5. "How important was unity to the Greek states in their victory over the Persians." . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on.

6. "To what extent were the Persians responsible for their own defeat in the Persian Wars?" . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on.

6. "Assess the contribution of Miltiades and Leonidas to the course of the Persian Wars." . A longer version of this essay can be accessed by clicking on.