Beginning of the Greco Persian Wars | World History | Khan Academy
TLDRIn 490 BCE, the Persian Empire, under the rule of Darius, encountered unexpected resistance from the Greeks, marking a pivotal moment in history. The empire, established by Cyrus the Great and expanded by his successors, had conquered significant territories, including the Neo-Babylonian and Egyptian empires. However, the Ionian Greek settlements under Persian control rebelled, leading to the Persians seeking revenge against the Greek city-states, particularly Athens and Eritrea. Despite an initial failure due to a storm in 492 BCE, Darius launched another campaign in 490 BCE, successfully subjugating Eritrea but facing defeat at the Battle of Marathon by the Athenians. This battle is considered a significant event that not only halted the Persian advance but also marked the beginning of the Greek ascendancy and the start of the Greek golden age. The story of a messenger running from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the battle, which inspired the modern marathon, is apocryphal but highlights the historical significance of the event. The Greco-Persian Wars continued, with Darius' son Xerxes continuing the conflict in subsequent years.
Takeaways
- 🌍 The Persian Empire in 490 BCE was extensive, established by Cyrus the Great and expanded by his successors.
- 🏺 The empire conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE and much of the Middle East, including the long-lived Egyptian Empire.
- 👑 Darius was the ruler of the Persian Empire, also known as the Achaemenid Empire, at the time.
- ⛵️ The Persians faced unexpected resistance from the Greeks, leading to a legendary rivalry between the two civilizations.
- 📜 The historical accounts of these conflicts come from Herodotus, a Greek historian, which may be biased towards the Greek perspective.
- 🏺 Ionia, a region with Greek settlements, was under Persian control and experienced a series of revolts from 500 BCE to 494 BCE.
- 🔥 In 498 BCE, rebels in Ionia took over and burned down Sardis, prompting a Persian response to regain control and seek revenge.
- 🚢 A Persian fleet sent in 492 BCE to punish the Athenians and Eritreans was destroyed by a storm.
- 🏃 In 490 BCE, Darius launched another attempt to subjugate the Eritreans and Athenians, which led to the Battle of Marathon.
- ✌️ The Athenians defeated the Persians at Marathon, marking a significant moment in history and the beginning of Greek ascendancy.
- 🏃♂️ The modern marathon race is inspired by the legendary run from Marathon to Athens, although the actual historical event involved a run from Athens to Sparta by a messenger named Filipides.
Q & A
What year is the map of the Persian Empire depicted in the video script from?
-The map is from 490 BCE, before the Common Era.
Who was the Persian Empire established by?
-The Persian Empire was established by Cyrus the Great and then expanded by his successors.
In what year did the Persians conquer the Neo-Babylonian Empire?
-The Persians conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE.
Who was the ruler of the Persian Empire in 490 BCE?
-Darius was the ruler of the Persian Empire in 490 BCE.
What is the term often used to refer to the Persian Empire?
-The Persian Empire is often referred to as the Achaemenid Empire.
What is the name of the Greek historian who wrote about the conflicts between the Persians and the Greeks?
-Herodotus, often known as the father of history, wrote about the conflicts between the Persians and the Greeks.
Why should we take the accounts of Herodotus with a grain of salt?
-We should take Herodotus' accounts with a grain of salt because he was Greek, lived after the conflicts, and his accounts tend to favor the Greek side of the story. There are no surviving Persian accounts to balance his narrative.
What was the region known as Ionia?
-Ionia was a region with Greek settlements that were under Persian control, located on the coast of modern-day Turkey on the Anatolian Peninsula.
What significant event happened in Sardis in 498 BCE?
-In 498 BCE, the rebels in Ionia took over and burned down Sardis, which was under Persian control.
How were the Greeks different from the Persians in terms of political structure?
-The Greeks were not a unified state or empire like the Persians. They were a fragmented group of city-states that shared a common language and religion but were not politically unified.
What was the outcome of the Persian fleet's attempt to seek revenge on the Athenians and Eritreans in 492 BCE?
-The Persian fleet's attempt in 492 BCE was unsuccessful due to a storm that destroyed most of the fleet.
What is the significance of the Battle of Marathon?
-The Battle of Marathon was significant because it marked the first major battle where the Athenians defeated the seemingly invincible Persians, which is often considered the beginning of Greek ascendancy and the start of the Greek golden age.
How is the modern marathon distance related to the Battle of Marathon?
-The modern marathon distance of approximately 26.2 miles is related to the apocryphal story of a messenger running from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the Athenian victory. Although the story is likely not true, the modern Olympic event was inspired by it.
What is the historical mix-up regarding the story of the marathon runner?
-The historical mix-up involves the conflation of two stories: one of a runner named Filipides who ran a much longer distance from Athens to Sparta, and the other of the Athenian army's quick march back to Athens after the Battle of Marathon. These stories combined to form the basis for the modern marathon distance.
Who continued Darius's efforts to seek revenge against the Greeks after his death?
-Darius's son, Xerxes, continued the efforts to seek revenge against the Greeks after Darius's death.
Outlines
🏺 Persian Empire's Expansion and Conflict with Greece
The first paragraph introduces the Persian Empire in 490 BCE, highlighting its extensive reach established by Cyrus the Great and his successors. It discusses the empire's conquests, including the Neo-Babylonian Empire and Egypt, and the rise of Darius as ruler. The paragraph also emphasizes the unexpected resistance encountered from the Greeks, which is a pivotal moment in history. The narrative is primarily sourced from Herodotus, a Greek historian, which may present a biased perspective. The focus then shifts to the Ionian region, where Greek settlements were under Persian control, and a series of revolts occurred between 500 BCE and 494 BCE. The Persians' retaliation after the burning of Sardis by the rebels is also covered, as well as the broader context of the fragmented Greek city-states and their involvement in the Ionian revolts.
🏺 The Battle of Marathon and its Historical Significance
The second paragraph details Darius's continued attempts to subdue the Greeks, particularly the Athenians and Eritreans, following the Ionian revolts. Despite an initial failed attempt in 492 BCE due to a storm that destroyed much of the Persian fleet, Darius launched another campaign in 490 BCE. This time, the Persians were partially successful, managing to subjugate Eritrea before being halted at Marathon by the Athenians. The ensuing battle marked a significant moment in history, as the previously invincible Persians were defeated by the Athenians. The paragraph also explores the origins of the modern marathon race, which is linked to the legendary run from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the battle's outcome. However, the actual historical event involved a run from Athens to Sparta by a messenger named Filipides. The paragraph concludes by noting that the Greco-Persian Wars were far from over and that Darius's son, Xerxes, would continue the conflict.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Persian Empire
💡Cyrus the Great
💡Neo-Babylonian Empire
💡Egyptian Empire
💡Darius
💡Achaemenid Empire
💡Ionia
💡Greek City-States
💡Battle of Marathon
💡Herodotus
💡Marathon Race
💡Xerxes
Highlights
The map presents the Persian Empire in 490 BCE, showing its extensive reach established by Cyrus the Great and his successors.
The Persians conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE and continued to expand across the Middle East.
Darius, ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, faced unexpected resistance from the Greeks.
The historical accounts of the Persian-Greek conflicts primarily come from Herodotus, a Greek historian.
Ionia, a region with Greek settlements, was under Persian control and experienced a series of revolts from 500 BCE to 494 BCE.
In 498 BCE, rebels in Ionia took over and burned down Sardis, prompting a Persian retaliation.
The Greeks were not a unified state but a fragmented group of city-states like Athens, Corinth, and Sparta.
Darius sought revenge on the Athenians and Eritreans for their support of the Ionian rebels.
A Persian fleet sent in 492 BCE to seek revenge was largely destroyed by a storm.
In 490 BCE, Darius launched another attempt to subjugate the Eritreans and Athenians, with more success.
The Battle of Marathon marked a significant historical event where the Athenians defeated the Persians.
The Athenian victory at Marathon is often marked as the beginning of Greek ascendancy and the golden age of Greek civilization.
The modern marathon race is inspired by the apocryphal story of a messenger running from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the battle.
The actual historical event that the marathon distance is based on involves a messenger named Filipides running from Athens to Sparta.
The Greco-Persian Wars continued after the Battle of Marathon, with Darius's son Xerxes continuing the conflict.
The story of the marathon and the Battle of Marathon are intertwined, providing a historical backdrop to the modern Olympic event.
Transcripts
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