World History: THE LAST STAND OF THE SPARTAN EMPIRE -- study guide #1

NAME: ____________________________ Section: ________

1. The Persian Empire, which when it attacked Greece was the largest empire the world had ever seen, fought with different military tactics than Greek armies, including using 20% cavalry to go along with the army. Why?




2. Why did Darius, the Persian King, decide to invade and destroy Athens in 490 B.C. (10 years before the Battle of the Spartan 300 at Thermopylae)?




3. How did the Athenians and their allies defeat the larger Persian army at Marathon, northeast of Athens?




4. Why are today's marathons races 26 miles long?




5. Why was the Athenian celebration of its victory, the building of the great Parthenon temple, so upsetting to King Darius?




6. How was Darius young son, Prince Xerxes, trained to succeed his father as King?




7. How did Xerxes get his massive army to "walk on water" across the Hellespont from Asia into Europe to reach Greece?




8. After crossing the Hellespont, the Persian army marches around the Aegean Sea in 3 months, into northern Greece. Marching south they will face the Spartan-led land force at Thermopylae, and square off with the Athenian-led navy under the command of what Athenian admiral?