GRECO-PERSIAN WARS
492 BC - 449 BC

The Greco-Persian Wars are also called the Persian Wars.

Part of the Greco-Persian Wars was the First Persian Invasion and the Second Persian Invasion. Both invasions took place between 490 and 479 BC.

Here is a map of Greece 500 BC - 479 BC:

MAP OF GREECE 500 BC - 479 BC

WHY WAS FOUGHT?
In the Ionian Revolt, mainland Greece showed how they felt about Persian rule. They were against it. Persia was ready to straighten everyone out and started the Greco-Persian Wars.

WHO FOUGHT?
Greece and Sparta vs. the Persian Empire. The Greeks were in charge of the army, the Spartans were in charge of the navy.

WHO WON?
Surprisingly, the Greeks.

BATTLES OF THE GRECO-PERSIAN WARS
Battle of Marathon, September 490 BC
Battle of Thermopylae, August 480 BC
Battle of Artemisium, August 480 BC
Raid on Athens, September 21, 480 BC
Battle of Salamis, September 29, 480 BC
Battle of Plataea, August 27, 479 BC
Battle of Mycale, 479 BC


THE EQUIPMENT
Greece and Sparta had approx. 350 ships.
Persia had approx. 1,000 ships but storms at see did a lot of damage to the Persian fleet.

According to Herodotus, the Persians had an army of millions.

And here is a map of the Acropolis of Athens, before and after the pillaging.

ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
Click map to enlarge