The Persian Wars
Greek states resisted two Persian invasions.
About this topic
The Persian Wars (499 to 449 BCE) pitted the Greek city-states against the vast Persian Empire. They began when Greek cities in Ionia revolted against Persian rule and Athens helped them. King Darius I sent an expedition in 490 BCE, but the Athenians won the Battle of Marathon; legend says a runner carried the news to Athens, inspiring the modern marathon race.
In 480 BCE Darius's son Xerxes invaded with a huge army and fleet. The Spartans delayed him at Thermopylae, and Athens was burned, but Themistocles lured the Persian ships into the narrow straits at Salamis, where the more manoeuvrable Greek triremes won a great naval victory. In 479 BCE the Greeks won on land at Plataea.
The Greeks often fought as an alliance, and Athens afterward led the Delian League, which grew into an Athenian empire and set up rivalry with Sparta. The victory encouraged Athenian confidence and the cultural flowering of the Golden Age. A tip is to see it as a struggle between a large empire and small free states, though Persia was in many ways tolerant and well organized. Greek sources written by the winners shape how we see it.
Key ideas
- Marathon 490 BCE
- Thermopylae and Salamis 480 BCE
- Greek confidence soared
Quick check
Use cases: where The Persian Wars helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The Persian Wars before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall The Persian Wars without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how The Persian Wars changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain The Persian Wars in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Persian Wars?
Greek states resisted two Persian invasions.
What will I learn in The Persian Wars?
Marathon 490 BCE. Thermopylae and Salamis 480 BCE. Greek confidence soared.
Is The Persian Wars part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The Persian Wars lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The Persian Wars?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.