HANDOUT FOR OCTOBER 3: THE PERSIAN WARS
Chronology:
547: Cyrus of Persia defeats Croesus of Lydia.
560-527: The "tyrant" Peisistratus holds power in Athens.
522: Darius becomes king of Persia.
514: Peisistratus’ son Hipparchus assassinated by Harmodius and Aristogeiton, who are celebrated as "Tyrannicides."
513-511: Persia conquers Thrace, invades Scythia.
510: Peisistratus’ other son, Hippias, flees Athens and takes refuge in Persia.
508: Democratic reforms of Cleisthenes in Athens.
499-498: Ionian cities revolt against Persia; Athenians intervene and burn city of Sardis.
493: Themistocles elected archon in Athens.
490: Persian Wars begin. Persian expeditionary force defeated by Athenians at Marathon.
486: Darius dies; his son Xerxes becomes king.
483: Athens begins constructing new fleet.
480: Xerxes invades Greece. Battle of Thermopylae. Persians defeated at naval battle of Salamis.
479: Xerxes withdraws; Persian army defeated at Plataea.
478: Foundation of Delian League, alliance headed by Athens.
c.450-445: Herodotus in Athens, gives readings of early draft of his History.
c.430: Final version of Herodotus’ History.