february 12

Today in class we took more notes on Ancient Greece....

Phalanx 

• close-rank, dense grouping of warriors
• armed with long spears and interlocking shields
• soldiers would advance slowly toward the enemy, until they broke through their ranks

Persian Empire vs. Greece

• look at how little and insignificant Greece appears
• look at how big the Persian Empire is
• Persians have a huge army, and nearly unlimited resources

Greek army

• iron weapons meant ordinary citizens could afford to arm themselves
• foot soldiers (hoplites) trained from an early age
• armed with spears, swords, shields
• often fought in phalanx formation
• “home field” advantage
• motivated to preserve democracy

Persian army

• first archers (do damage from a distance)
• then cavalry (they disrupt communication between generals and soldiers)
• then lightly armored infantry (carried spear, sword, and bow)
• huge numbers
• long way from home
• professional army (soldiers for hire, or mercenaries)

Persian War Highlights

• 546 BC: Persians conquer Greeks in Ionia
• 499-494 BC: Ionian revolt (Athens helps)
• Darius the Great defeats these rebels and vows revenge on Athens
• 490 BC: Persian fleet attacks Marathon, but loses (run, Pheidippides, run!)
• 480 BC: Xerxes (Darius’ son) conducts massive assault on Athens
• 480 BC: Greeks (especially 300 Spartans) hold their own at Themopylae
• 480 BC: Greeks abandon Athens to fight Persia at sea, winning at Straits of Salamis
• victorious Greeks form Delian League