Greece Unites Against Persia

Conquering Ionia

The Persian War started when Emperor Darius I of Persia conquered Ionia, a city-state of Greece
Persian rule was not harsh but they wanted to conquer the Greek lands
The Ionians fought back but with the help of Athens, Persia still demolished the army

Enraged at Athens for helping Ionia the Persians promised to retaliate
Athens and the Persians met at Marathon, which is really close to Athens
The Persian Army got in formation
Though what they did not know was that Athens had a strategy already to defeat the Persians
The Athenians rushed toward the Persians with locked shields, Athenian soldiers surprised and attacked them
The Persians retreated back to their ships

The Persians returned and invaded Greece
Athenians were not prepared
Athens formed an alliance with other Greek city-states (the great Spartan Army from Sparta was one of these allies)
The small army that Sparta brought was able to fight off the Persian Army

Ten years passed since the Battle at Marathon
King Xerxex, Darius I's successor, invaded Athens
Athens was still preparing for battle
The Spartan Army was ready and waiting for the Persians at Thermopylae
The Spartan Soldiers, under the leadership of King Leonidas, fought bravely and held up the Persian warriors, giving Athens and the other Greek city-states time to prepare
After the Spartan Army won battles at Thermopylae, Athens was prepared (along with other Greek city-states)
With the Greek Alliance, Athens and Sparta defeated the mighty Persian Empire, once again

Once the Athenians were prepared, they fought along with Sparta (and other Greek city-states)
The Greeks had triremes, small and nimble war ships
They battled the Persian Navy and lured them into a trap where a third of the Persian Naval Fleet got destroyed
The nimble triremes were too quick for the Persian Navy to stop
The triremes rammed and sank the Persian ships

Olive Vista STEAM Magnet Middle School Student