Words for the day

1. Words for the day • Bulwark – barrier • Mercenaries- soldier that is employed -no allegiances • Subjugated- put under foreign rule • Autonomy – self government • Ionia –modern day Turkey • Satrapies – provinces;the Persian empire was divided into approximately 20 satrapies • Tyrants – rulers with no hereditary right to power

2. The Persian Empire

3. Introduction • In the years leading up to the Persian Wars, the Persian empire grew at an incredible rate to establish Persia as one of the truly great ,multinational powers of the time. From the Indus Valley and the steppes of Central Asia, the Persian empire also encompassed present day countries such as Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Egypt.

4. THE CONQUEST OF LYDIA • By 546/545 BC, the Persians under Cyrus the Great, had defeated King Croesus of Lydia and the western seaboard of Asia Minor, primarily populated by Ionian Greeks, came under Persian control. • The people of Ionia, were discontent with their new, dictatorial rulers. The Persian rulers knew the feelings of the populace, but did little to alleviate the hostilities.

5. The Scythian expedition • Darius I, wanted to secure the north by conquering Thrace and then attack the Scythians. • King Darius I of Persia conquered Thrace and parts of Macedon. By now the mainland Greeks were feeling the pressure of Persia's expansion.

6. The Ionian revolt 499-493 Introduction • In 499 BC at the town of Miletus, an Ionian revolt against Persian rule began. This was to set in motion a train of events which would see the cities of mainland Greece fighting for their very survival.

7. Causes • Herodotus sees the direct cause of the revolt • as simply the ambitions and intrigues of the tyrant of Miletus, Aristagoras, and his father-in-Iaw Histiaeus. • He does not take into account that there was widespread discontent throughout the Greek cities of Asia Minor.

8. Underlying Causes • 1 The Greeks had lost their autonomy or independence in deciding their own lifestyle, something which was precious to them. • 2 They were subject not only to another power, - but to an Oriental, 'barbarian' king to whom they paid heavy taxes. • 3 The Persian system of local government in Asia Minor involved the use of Greek, pro-Persian tyrants who were 'puppets' of the great king. Tyranny was no longer acceptable to the Greeks. In order to free themselves from it, they had to rebel against the Persian king who controlled them.

9. Direct Cause • Histiaeus, tyrant of Miletus and a successful commander under Darius, was summoned to Susa and detained there indefinitely by the king, who suspected his ambitions. • In his place at Miletus, Histiaeus left his son-in-law, Aristagoras.

10. In BC 499, Aristagoras, the ruler of the Ionian city Miletus, yearned to control the city of Naxos. He failed to gain Naxos as they had been warned of the attack. • Fearing punishment from Darius I (Persian Emperor from BC 521-486) or Artaphrenes, for breaking the agreement not to fight with other Ionian cities, he incited a rebellion.

11. Aristagoras encouraged the Ionians to remove their tyrant leaders. In response, many cities in the area rebelled and ousted their Persian rulers. • Knowing that it would not be long until Darius retaliated, Aristagoras traveled to Sparta and appealed to King Cleomenes for aid.

12. When the Spartan leader learned of the distance his army would travel to reinforce the Ionians, he declined the request for aid • Aristagoras, now desperate for support, went to Athens for help. The Athenians, fearing an inevitable attack by the Persians, decided to support Aristagoras and sent twenty triremes along with five from Eretria.

13. The Ionian fleet, bolstered by Athenian and Eretrian ships, sailed to Ephesus in BC 498. The Allied Greek force marched into the city where they met little resistance. As they marched deeper into the city, they finally engaged Artaphrenes (ruler of Sardis) who was defending the citadel. • Not able to capture the citadel, the Ionians set the city ablaze and retreated to Ephesus. Persians troops in the area met the Greeks at Ephesus and massacred most of them. The remaining Ionians scattered to the surrounding cities.

14. Conclusion • The revolt had several lasting effects. The Ionian enlightenment ended. Darius I's anger for Athens grew, because of the aid they provided to the Ionians, and gave him the incentive to invade Greece. The rebellion had clearly shown that the empire was unstable, and vulnerable to internal conflicts • The Ionian revolt was the first round in the struggle between Greece and Persia

16. 1.Who were the Persians? • Indo-European tribes who settled in Iran (now)/Persia

17. 2.Who was Cyrus the Great? • A king of Persia- founder of the Archaemid dynasty

18. 3.What interactions took place between the Persians and Greeks during the 9th and 8th centuries BC? • Greeks fled mainland across Aegean and settled on coast of Asia minor and small islands in the Aegean.

19. Achaemenid Persian Empire

21. 4.Who were the Ionian Greeks? • People who lived in cities on coast - Asia minor and islands.

22. 5. Where did they live? • Cities on coasts of Asia Minor and islands • Ionian cities – shade in on map • Lydia, Miletus, Mycale, Ephesus,Chios,Samos,Naxos, • Cos, Sardis,Thrace,Scythia,Hellespont

23. 6.Why did they maintain a relationship with the mainland Greeks? • Same racial group

24. 7.Who ruled Lydia? • King Croesus

25. 8.How did he cause trouble with Cyrus the Great? • Crossed into Persian territories

26. 9.How did Cyrus retaliate? • Despatched army to confront Lydians

27. 10.What was the capital of Lydia? • SARDIS

28. 11.Who gained control of this city? • Cyrus the Great

29. 12.What were the consequences of Cyrus seizing the Ionian cities? • Some places welcomed Persian rule- others fled. Some Greeks sold into slavery/others served as mercenaries in Persian army. • Fleets of the city became part of Persian navy. Greek tyrants set up to rule Ionian cities.

30. 13.What was Darius I’s policy? • Further expansion of the Persian empire.

31. 14.Which areas did Darius subjugate into the Persian Empire? • THRACE

32. 15.How did the Ionians help Darius with his attempt to expand the Persian Empire? • 600 ships were supplied by the Ionians. Built bridges of boats across the Hellespont, Danube River.