📖 Background Reading

The Persian Wars (499-449 BCE)

The Persian Wars were fought between the Greek city-states and the mighty Persian Empire. King Darius and later his son Xerxes led massive armies to conquer Greece. Famous battles included Marathon (490 BCE), where 300 Spartans made their heroic stand at Thermopylae (480 BCE), and the naval victory at Salamis (480 BCE). The Greeks united against a common enemy and ultimately won their freedom.

The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)

After defeating Persia, the Greek city-states turned against each other. Athens, with its powerful navy and democratic government, fought against Sparta and its military-focused society. This brutal war lasted 27 years and weakened both sides. Sparta eventually won, but Greece never fully recovered its strength. Unlike the Persian Wars, this conflict divided the Greeks and led to their downfall.

Learning Goal: I can compare and contrast the Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War and explain their impact on ancient Greece.

📚 Part 1: Multiple Choice & True/False

✏️ Part 2: Fill in the Blank & Short Answer

The famous battle where 300 __________ fought against the Persians was called __________. The Greeks won a major naval battle at __________.

Persian Wars winner: __________

Peloponnesian War winner: __________

🎯 Success Criteria & Extensions

Success Criteria - I can:

✓ Identify key leaders and battles from both wars
✓ Explain the main differences between the Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War
✓ Describe how these wars impacted ancient Greek civilization

Differentiation Support:

• Visual learners: Draw a timeline of major battles
• Struggling readers: Work with a partner to read passages aloud
• Advanced learners: Research and write about the role of Athenian democracy in these conflicts