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Effects of Persian Wars

1. The Persian Wars of 490 and 480-79 had both immediate and longer lasting effects. The chief effect of the battle of Marathon, fought between Athenians and Plataeans, on the Greek side, and a Persian force sent by Darius in 490, was that the Athenian victory gave Athenians confidence in their ability as hoplites, and served to vindicate Cleisthenes' reforms, paving the way for further democratic developments like the lottery system. Darius had intended to install the Peisistratid Hippias as tyrant if successful, and in 488 the first Athenian was ostracized. The effects of the Persian invasion of 480-79 were even more important for the development of Athenian history. Broadly speaking, the ideas of freedom and the importance of law crystallized. The naval battle of Salamis had far-reaching effects: the rise of Athenian naval power, the creation of the Delian League in 478, which in turn increased Athens' wealth, and that in turn made the city the cultural capital of the Mediterranean and also made the city beautiful with projects like the Parthenon (not begun until mid-century). The battle of Salamis also made Athens more democratic because the rowers on the triremes were the poor, who were gradually extended broader political power.

These effects are significant because, first, the Delian League developed into the Athenian Empire, the first empire in the Greek world, and showed how the desire for power outweighed the concept of panhellenism in reality; the increase in wealth for Athens allowed them to subjugate other Greeks. The cultural achievements in Athens in the fifth century that constitute the great age of Greek culture (examples), indirectly result from these wars. Finally, the effect of Salamis on democracy is significant because it resulted in the most radical, participatory government the world has ever known, and it was unique (specifics if time).

2. The Persian Wars occurred in the classical period (500-336). They are as follows: the battle of Marathon came first, and then ten years later, a number of battles including Salamis and Plataea, which the Greeks won. In all these battles, the Greeks were greatly outnumbered and it is a miracle that they won. The Persians attacked Greece in the first place, because Athens had aided the Ionians in their attempted revolt, and Darius vowed revenge, although he had also been expanding his empire west. Darius was the first to cross into Europe, and it was under Darius that the empire reached its height. The battles of 480-79 were important because Salamis was a naval victory for the Greeks and Plataea was a hoplite victory. So everybody benefited.

The Persian Wars are significant because of their effects. They made Greeks feel like they could achieve a lot. Athens was beautified and there would also be an effect on their democracy and power in the world. People started to feel important and that is a good thing today as well as back then. But probably Sparta wasn't thrilled about Athens' rise.

Practice writing a shorter version (1 large paragraph total = 1/2 8" x 11") of a good ID. Choose information and details that seem especially important. The goal: be specific, not vague, and bring out the significance.

Museum and Library at Alexandria