Lesson plan on the topic:
"Invasion of Persian troops in Hellas"
Lesson objectives:
Educational:
formation and development of skills that allow you to work with text and historical maps in the classroom
analyze historical source
Educational:
formation of generalization skills
use of displayed information in various sign systems - table, map, audiovisual series
Educators:
development of cognitive activity
ability to communicate in groups
Expected results:
Subject:
They will learn to determine the reasons for the victories of the Greeks, evaluate the results of wars, characterize the personalities of Xerxes and Themistocles;
Get the opportunity to learn to analyze opinions, events, draw your own conclusions, and defend your own point of view with reason.
Metasubject:
Cognitive: will complement and expand knowledge about the Greco-Persian wars (Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis), search for the necessary information;
Communication: apply the rule of business cooperation, take part in collective discussion;
Personal: will maintain motivation for educational activities, show interest in new educational material, and evaluate their own educational activities.
Solvable educational problems : Why were the Greeks able to win the Greco-Persian wars?
Equipment: computer, multimedia projector, screen, presentation for the lesson “Invasion of Persian troops in Hellas.”
During the classes:
I.Organizing time.
II.Creating a problematic situation. Formulating the problem. Versions.
What threat loomed over Greece at the beginning of the 5th century? BC.? Prove that this threat was great. (Invasion of the Persians. Huge army.)
Was there still a danger of invasion after the victory in the Battle of Marathon? Why? (The Persians wanted to take revenge, punish the Greeks for the victory at Marathon and enslave them.)
What year was the Battle of Marathon?
Was Persia still a strong power? Was Greece strong?
(Yes. Persia is a great power uniting many nations. Greece is divided)
Judging by the strengths of the warring parties, what should be the results of the Greco-Persian wars? But the Greeks won.
Problem: Why were the Greeks able to win the Greco-Persian wars?
Any versions, guesses? Write them down in short phrases.
The teacher writes on the board:
The Greeks united;
New military tactics, the emergence of a fleet;
The Art of Generals;
Courage, heroism, etc.
III.Updating knowledge. Activity planning:
Conversation about the features of Greek democracy.
What do we need to know? (new events in the life of the Greeks, how they prepared for wars, results and significance)
Plan for learning new material.
1.Preparing Greece for a new war with the Persians.
2.Invasion of Xerxes’ troops into Greece.
3. Battle in the Thermopylae Gorge.
4.Battle of Salamis.
Finding a solution to the problem.
Independent work with the textbook text. Study the actions of Themistocles.
Expressing opinions.
Many Greeks considered the defeat of the Persians at Marathon to be the end of the war, but the most far-sighted of them thought otherwise. To defend their independence, Greek cities needed to forget about internal strife, unite their forces and create one large powerful army. During these years, an intelligent and energetic citizen of Athens, Themistocles, emerged. He was a participant in the Battle of Marathon and well understood that the Persians would soon invade Greece again. Speaking at the People's Assembly, he said: “Our homeland - Hellas - is divided into dozens of states that often fight with each other. To defeat the Persians, the Greeks must forget mutual enmity and unite." Themistocles traveled to different cities in Greece, and eventually the military alliance he called for was created. The command of the united army was entrusted to the Spartans, since they had the best infantry. The creation of the fleet is associated with the name of Themistocles. Speaking at a public meeting, he said:
If the Persian king moves towards Hellas with his main forces, we will not be able to defeat him on land. Our salvation lies in the creation of a powerful fleet, because the Hellenes are better than other peoples at sailing ships and fighting at sea.
But where to get the money to build a fleet? - asked the Athenians.
“You all know,” answered Themistocles, “that in the south of Attica there are silver mines belonging to the Athenian state. Usually we divide the mined silver among all citizens. I propose to refuse this money and build warships with it.
The popular assembly accepted Themistocles' proposal, and by the beginning of the new war with the Persians, the Athenians had two hundred triremes. The trireme was a shallow-draft ship with three rows of oars. The sails played a supporting role: before the battle they were usually removed by the trireme, thanks to the coordinated actions of 180 oarsmen and a helmsman, it developed speed for those times (up to 18 km), was mobile, capable of making sharp turns, passing through narrow straits without running aground.
Students are provided with images of a trireme on the screen.
The following questions are suggested:
What measures to prepare for a new war with the Persians were carried out at the suggestion of Themistocles?
What is the essence of uniting the Greek city-states into a single army?
2.Invasion of Xerxes’ troops into Greece.
A new campaign against Greece was organized by Xerxes, who became king after the death of Darius. This happened 10 years after the Battle of Marathon. Xerxes had many ships and countless troops recruited from conquered peoples. A huge army of Persians set out from the city of Sardis and Asia Minor. It approached the Hellespont Strait. (which two parts of Eurasia are separated by the strait?). By order of Xerxes, a bridge more than a kilometer long was built. But a strong storm arose and destroyed the bridge. Xerxes was furious, he ordered the execution of the bridge builders, flogging the disobedient sea with whips and, as punishment, lowering iron chains into it. Other craftsmen built a new bridge. They placed 360 ships close to each other at anchors and tied them together for strength. The crossing to the European coast lasted seven days.
Then the army moved along the European coast, and a fleet walked along the coast (Persian ships were heavy and clumsy, adapted for sailing on the open sea). The army was followed by a convoy with food. Xerxes' army invaded northern Greece and began to occupy region after region. The Greeks did not dare to open battle. The only passage between northern and central Greece was Thermopylae. The narrow Thermopylae passage was convenient to defend: to the left of the Greeks almost sheer cliffs rose up, and to the right there was a cliff to the sea. The Greeks built defensive walls and towers. Xerxes was informed that the united Greek army had occupied the Thermopylae Gorge and blocked the Persians' further path. Students are given map No. 1 on the screen. The invasion of Xerxes’ troops into Greece.
Working with a historical map:
Which two parts of Eurasia are separated by the Hellespont?
Show the borders of the Persian state before the start of the war?
List the Greek city-states that took an active part in the war with Persia?
Physical education.
Work in groups:
1 gr.: Battle of Thermopylae.
2 gr.: Salamis battle.
3. Battle in the Thermopylae Gorge (students’ story).
The Greek commanders sent a detachment to Thermopylae with only a few thousand soldiers. It was commanded by the Spartan king Leonidas. He so skillfully directed the actions of his warriors that a huge army of Persians tried for four whole days to conquer the gorge, which was defended only by a small detachment. The Persian soldiers, gripped by fear, ceased to obey their commanders, and they were driven into the attack by blows of whips. Xerxes was furious: his vast army was being defeated.
Students are given fragments on the screen from Herodotus’s work “History” about the Battle of Thermopylae to analyze the historical source.
VII.212...The barbarians attacked in the belief that, given the small number of enemies, they would all be wounded and would not be able to resist, but the Hellenes fought in succession, except for the Phocians. The Phocians were sent to guard the mountain path.
213. Meanwhile, the Persian king did not know what to do. Then a certain Epialtes came to him and, for a reward, showed the Persians the path leading through the mountains to Thermopylae, and thereby destroyed the Hellenes who were there.
220. Leonidas sent his allies to save them from death. It is not appropriate for him and his Spartans to leave the place to protect which he was sent...
222...only the Thespians and Thebans remained with the Lacedaemonians. The Hellenes knew about the certain death that threatened them from the enemy who had bypassed the mountain. Therefore, they showed the greatest military valor and fought the enemy with desperate and insane courage.
To analyze a historical source, it is proposed to use a reminder for working with the text.
Read the text
Divide the text into parts and highlight the main idea in each
Read the text a second time and check that all the main ideas are reflected in the outline
Write the resulting plan in your notebook
Not a single Spartan survived. The Greeks remembered the feat of the Spartans for many centuries. At the site of the battle, they erected a monument, on the pedestal of which they placed the lines of their best poet, dedicated to the fallen heroes:
O traveler, tell the Spartans about our death:
True to our laws, we died here as bones.
The monument was crowned by the figure of a seated lion as a reminder of the Spartan king Leonidas, whose name means “like a lion.” The heroic death of the defenders of the Thermopylae Gorge in 480 BC. e. became a symbol of military courage in world history.
4. Battle of Salamis (students’ story).
Having captured Thermopylae, the Persian army rushed deep into Greece. The Greek commanders understood that the city would not be able to withstand a long siege by a powerful army. Therefore, by decision of the People's Assembly, the inhabitants of the city were transported to the island of Salamis under the protection of the Greek fleet. When the Persians entered Athens, the city was empty. Then Xerxes' soldiers put him to the fire. The Greeks did not consider themselves defeated. Their army and navy were preserved. Themistocles believed that first of all it was necessary to destroy the strong Persian fleet. Therefore, the battle had to take place at sea in the narrow Strait of Salamis. There was enough space for light and fast Greek triremes, but the bulky Persian ships could not move freely there. The naval victory of the Greeks was to decide the fate of the entire war.
However, the Greeks doubted that Themistocles was right. Then Themistocles decided to resort to cunning. He secretly sent a scout warrior to the Persian camp. He was supposed to tell Xerxes supposedly true information that the Greek fleet was going to leave the island of Salamis. The Persian king believed the report and ordered to block the path of the Greek ships. The exits from the Strait of Salamis were closed by Persian ships. The battle in the Strait of Salamis became inevitable.
The presentation and plan of the battle is presented on the slide.
Realizing that he had been defeated, Xerxes feared that the Greeks would cut off his path back to Persia. In Greece he left only a few detachments led by experienced commanders. The vicinity of the city of Plataea was chosen as the site of the battle. The Greek army was commanded by the outstanding Spartan military leader Pausanias. The Battle of Plataea ended the war between the Greeks and the Persians on the Balkan Peninsula. Victory in the wars did not go to the Greeks by chance. The unity of the Greek city-states helped defeat a terrible enemy who far outnumbered them in strength.
IV.Reinforcing new material:
Exercise:Students fill out the time line.
Expressing a solution to a problem.
What conclusion can we draw about the problem? Have we solved the problem of the lesson? Which versions have been confirmed?
5.Homework instruction: paragraph 35, answer the questions.
6 .Creative task: Imagine yourself as an Athenian craftsman turned trireme oarsman or warrior. Describe how the night before the Battle of Salamis went. What role did your ship play in the battle? Pupils do work in groups. After preparation, children “defend” their work.
7. Reflection on activity: summing up, voicing and giving reasons for assessments.
State educational institution of the LPR "Seleznevskaya school No. 18"
PUBLIC LESSON
BY HISTORY
« INVASION OF PERSIAN TROOPS ON HELLAS"
(5th grade)
Prepared by: Sklyarova Oksana Sergeevna
a history teacher
Seleznevskaya school No. 18
2016
Lesson "Invasion of Persian troops in Hellas."
Target : Complete the study of the history of the heroic struggle of the Greek city-states with the Persian power, show the heroic struggle of the Greek city-states with the Persian power using the example of the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of Salamis, continue to develop the skills to correctly show historical objects on the map, read map diagrams, write a story.
Equipment: Textbook by A.A. Vigasin, G.I. Goder, I.S. Sventsitskaya “History of the Ancient World” § 35. table Battle of Salamis, fragment of the film “Battle of Salamis”
During the classes.
Organizing time .
II. Updating knowledge students on the topic “Victory of the Greeks over the Greeks in the Battle of Marathon”:
1.Why in the beginningVV. BC. Darius the First decided to conquer Hellas?(since the Persian nobility sought new conquests, new lands, wealth.)
2. How did many Greek city policies act when the ambassadors of Darius the First arrived?Many Greek city-states immediately submitted to the troops of Darius.
3. How did the Greeks behave when the Persian ambassadors came to them?
(The Athenians threw the ambassadors off a cliff, the Spartans threw them into a well.)
4.Which cities did the Athenians turn to for help? (The Athenians turned to Sparta and Plataea for help).
5.How did the inhabitants of Sparta behave? The Spartans promised to help later
6.Who was appointed to the position of strategist by the People's Assembly in Athens?The Athenians chose Miltiades, who knew military affairs well, to the position of strategist.
7.What help did the residents of the city of Plataea provide?Only the inhabitants of the city of Plataea sent a thousand soldiers.
8.What was the name of the Greek battle formation before the battle?. They formed a phalanx and fought like mad.
9.When did the Battle of Marathon take place? (The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC).
10. How did it end? (The Battle of Marathon ended in victory for the Greeks)
11.What was the significance of the Greek victory at Marathon? (The Greeks defeated the Persians for the first time, and the Persians were no longer considered invincible).
12.What reminds us of the Battle of Marathon these days? (Marathon running, 42 km 195 m)
Now we will play the game “Who is first?” I ask questions, and whoever answers the question first and correctly receives a picture of a kolobok with a smile.
Preparing for a review and generalization lesson .
What does the word polis mean? (A small independent state in Greece).
Who are called helots? (Slaves in Sparta).
What is democracy? (People power).
What does the word Areopagus mean? (Council of Nobles in Athens).
Who were called citizens? (Free Athenians).
Working with the map.
You know and this is not new:
The map is an important basis.
Battles, actions and countries
You will be shown tirelessly.
If you have a desire,
Let's get started. All attention.
Show on the map the territory of Ancient Greece and its parts. Name them. (Northern, Central, Southern Greece).
Which peninsula is considered Southern Greece? (Peloponnese Peninsula).
Where is the city of Athens? (In Attica).
Where is Sparta? (In Southern Greece, Lakonica region).
Where did the Greeks first defeat the Persians? (In Marathon).
Teacher's summary.
So, we got acquainted with the Battle of Marathon. We learned that thanks to their courage, bravery, and willpower, the Greeks defeated the Persians.
But do you think it was possible to exclude the danger of a new enemy attack?
Of course not. Since the Greeks had money, ships, goods, there was brisk trade in the Aegean Sea, and the Greeks themselves could be turned into subjects of the “king of kings.”
Therefore, Today we will get acquainted with new events from the Greco-Persian troops.
and the topic of the lessonInvasion of Persian troops in Hellas"
Problem task for students:
IV . Introduction to the topic.
Plan:
Preparing the Hellenes for a new war.
Battle in Thermopylae Gorge.
Battle of Salamis.
1. The Athenians were proud of their victory in the Battle of Marathon. But there were new battles with the Persians ahead. Only a few understood this, and among them was Themistocles, the leader of the demos.( Pay attention to fig. us. 165 below). Under his leadership, the Greeks began to prepare for war with the Persians. Themistocles spoke at the national assembly and convinced everyone that the support of democracy was the fleet. The Athenians listened to his opinion and built 200 triremes in a short time. On such a ship there were 180 oarsmen from the Athenian poor.
Themistocles also convinced the Greeks that they needed to unite to fight the Persians. 30 Greek states created an alliance to defend against the Persians. And so in 480. BC. Darius' son Xerxes led his troops to Hellas. A narrow strait separated Europe from Asia. Here Xerxes ordered the construction of a bridge, but a storm arose and the bridge was destroyed. In anger, Xerxes ordered the heads of the bridge builders to be cut off and the sea to be whipped. Other craftsmen built a new bridge. The Persians crossed the new bridge for seven days to the opposite bank. The teacher talks about the Persian crossing of the Hellespont,( Students work with a map ).
(see map) A serious clash with the enemy occurred among the Greeks in the Thermopylae Pass, which separated Northern Greece from Central Greece.(Independent reading by students of the section “Battle in the Thermopylae Gorge” pp. 166-167)
Who led the Greek army that blocked the Persians' path to Thermopylae Gorge? (Tsar Leonidas)
On whose side - the Greeks or the Persians - was there military superiority? quality?
What was the feat of the 300 Spartans?
What are the results of this battle?
Children's answers: A huge Persian army invaded the territory of Northern Greece. A serious clash with the enemy occurred among the Greeks in the Thermopylae Pass, which separated Northern Greece from Central Greece. The united Greek army was led by the Spartan king Leonidas. The Greeks occupied the Thermopylae Gorge and blocked the path of the Persians. Xerxes sent the main forces of the Persian army into a frontal attack, but the Greeks did not retreat. The Persians suffered heavy losses. Xerxes jumped up from his throne three times in fear for his army. All Persian attempts to capture the Thermopylae Gorge ended in failure. On the third day, a local resident came to Xerxes and showed him a bypass path for a reward. Xerxes was delighted and sent his soldiers to the rear of the Greek defenders of Thermopylae. The Hellenes noticed the marching enemy detachment. King Leonidas ordered everyone to retreat, and he himself, along with 300 Spartans, remained to cover the retreat of the Greek troops. 300 Spartans showed courage and heroism in the battle with the Persians. The Spartans fought with King Leonidas until everyone died.
Teacher: The feat of three hundred Spartans saved the Greek army from defeat, but could not save the country from ruin.
The Spartans ordered the withdrawal of troops to the Isthmus of Corinth, separating Central Greece from the Peloponnese. Here, from sea to sea, they began to build a defensive wall.
Attica was given to the Persians without a fight. The Persian cavalry trampled barley and wheat fields, soldiers cut down olive trees and vineyards, and burned villages. Themistocles, in this terrible hour for his homeland, told the Athenians: “The entire adult population must board warships. And women, old people and children must be transported to the island of Salamis under the protection of the navy. The outcome of the war will be decided in a naval battle." (See map)
The Athenians did as Themistocles advised.
When the Persians entered Athens, the city was empty. By order of Xerxes, Athens was set on fire and its temples were destroyed. The Persian warships anchored in a bay near Athens.
Nearby, in the narrow strait between Salamis and Attica, there was a Greek fleet of about 400 ships. From here one could see how the most beautiful of the cities of Hellas was burning.
And so, on the deck of one of the triremes, a military council took place. The commander of the combined army was a Spartan, he stated that he was ordering to sail to the Isthmus of Corinth to protect southern Greece. Themistocles began to object to the commander, urging him to fight in the Strait of Salamis.
Read the text on page 167 below, “The Mistocles’ Cunning the Day Before Battle of Salamis."
Now let’s look at an excerpt from the film “The Battle of Salamis”
Thus ended the Battle of Salamis. Xerxes, leaving part of his army, left Greece. In 479 BC. near the city of Plataea, the remaining Persian army was defeated. The Battle of Salamis became decisive during the Greco-Persian wars. The Greeks, in a difficult struggle, defended their independence and saved their homeland from the enemy.
Was Themistocles right? How did his talent as a strategist manifest itself?
and the speaker? What legendary hero can we compare Themistocles with?
and for his cunning? (WITH
Odysseus).
V . Reinforcing what has been learned in the lesson.
At least a little tired,
Shown the power of knowledge
Well, one more step
We'll reinforce the lesson.
1. Guys, what battles during the Greco-Persian wars did we talk about today? (About the Battle of Thermopylae Gorge and the Battle of Salamis).
Now let's fill out the table and find out in which battles did the Greeks defeat the Persians?
Filling out the table “Greco-Persian Wars”
date
Battle
Results of the battle
490g. BC.
Marathon Battle
Greek victory
480g. BC.
Battle in Thermopylae Gorge
Persian victory
480g. BC.
Battle of Salamis
Greek victory
The Greeks defended their independence in a difficult and lengthy struggle.
IX . Checking the problem task, reflection.
Why did Greece, such a small country, manage to defeat such a huge power as Persia?
How do you think,
VI . Lesson summary.
Grading.
Homework: P. 35 of the textbook, learn the terms.
Write a story on behalf of a Greek about any battle (optional).
Repetition: 1. The Persians, through ambassadors, demanded land and water from the Greeks. What did it mean: A) areas near water bodies B) eating and drinking C) subordination 2. Indicate the reason for the Greco-Persian wars: A) Persian hatred of the Greeks B) aggressive foreign policy of the Persians C) conflict over Sparta 3. Who did the People's Assembly in Athens elected as a strategist to fight the Persians: A) Aminius B) Mardonius C) Miltiades
After the Battle of Marathon, the threat from Persia remained. Themistocles understood this very well. At his suggestion, the Athenians built a fleet of 200 triremes. Thanks to Themistocles, 30 Hellenic states created the Union of Thirty Hellenic States to fight the Persians. Preparing for war
Battle in the Thermopylae Gorge King Leonidas and 300 Spartans, at the cost of their lives, covered the retreat of the main Greek army. Not a single Spartan surrendered to the Persians. Subsequently, an inscription was made on the monument in the gorge: “Traveler, take the news to all citizens, tell the Spartans about our death: true to our laws, we died here as bones.”
The Persians had 800 ships, located in three groups, blocking the exit from the strait. The Greeks have 200, built in 2 lines. A strong wind began. Themistocles gave the order to attack the left flank of the Persians. The Greek ships rammed the Persian ones, and they, pressed against each other, could not accelerate and did not cause any harm to the Greeks. Soon the Persians were attacked by the Greek center and right flank. The Persians, in panic, moved towards the straits, clogged with their own ships. Battle of Salamis
The Persians, in panic, moved towards the straits, clogged with their own ships. As a result of this grandiose battle, the Persians lost more than 200 ships, and the Greeks lost the Battle of Salamis
Greco-Persian Wars Date of the battle Name of the battle Result of the battle 490 BC Marathon victory of the Greeks (Athenians) 480 BC Thermopylae defeat of the Greeks 480 BC Salamis victory of the Greeks 479 BC. near the city of Plataea, the victory of the Greeks, the defeat of the remnants of the Persian army. In a difficult and lengthy struggle, the Greeks defended their independence
Dictionary: Themistocles is a Greek commander. Leonidas is a Spartan king. 480 BC - Battle of the Thermopylae Pass. 480 BC - Battle of Salamis. 479 BC - Battle of Plataea. Trireme is a Greek ship with 3 rows of oars (180 rowers). Xerxes is the king of Persia.
Sources Vigasin A.A., Goder G.I. Sventsitskaya I.S. Ancient world history. Textbook for grade 5. - M.: Education, 2008 Goder G.I. Workbook on the history of the Ancient World. Issue 2 - M.: Education, 2004 Araslanova O.V., Soloviev K.A. Lesson developments on the history of the Ancient World. Manual for teachers - M.: Education, 2009 School encyclopedia. History of the Ancient World. - M.: “OLMA - PRESS”, 2003 Internet resources
§ 1 Preparation for war
In 490 BC. The famous Battle of Marathon took place, as a result of which the Persians were expelled from the territory of the Balkan Peninsula, and the myth of their invincibility was dispelled. However, immediately after the troops returned to their homeland, the Persian king Darius began preparing for a new campaign, gathering a huge army.
Many residents of Hellas (as the Greeks themselves called their country) were sure that they should not expect a new attack.
Themistocles, an Athenian politician who for a long time held the position of archon and was the de facto ruler of Athens, thought quite differently. Themistocles traveled a lot throughout Greece, trying to create an alliance between cities to fight a dangerous enemy. He managed to unite 30 cities, including Athens and Sparta. In addition, Themistocles insisted that in order to strengthen military power it was necessary to create a navy. Funds from the sale of silver mined in Attica were used to build the fleet. Previously, these incomes were distributed among the citizens of Athens. But Themistocles managed to convince people that it was better to invest money in building a fleet. His efforts were crowned with complete success. By the beginning of the new military campaign, Athens had a powerful fleet of 180 ships.
§ 2 Persian invasion
In 480 BC. The Persian king Xerxes, the son of Darius, gathered a huge army and fleet and moved against the Greeks. It was decided to cross the Hellespont to Europe. By order of the king, bridges were built, but at that time a storm broke out. High waves demolished the erected structure. This event angered Xerxes, and he ordered the heads of the people responsible for the construction of the bridges to be cut off, and the sea to be flogged with whips. Then new bridges were built. After which the crossing began, which lasted 7 days and nights.
Xerxes' hordes quickly conquered Thrace and Macedonia and invaded northern Greece.
Most of the cities surrendered without a fight - the way to the south was open. It was decided to give battle to the Persians in the narrow Thermopylae Gorge, a small passage between the mountains and the sea that connected Northern and Central Greece.
Command was given to the Spartan king Leonidas, who had 7 thousand people at his disposal, including 300 Spartans. For several days the Greeks held off the Persian attacks. Until a local resident showed the invaders a workaround through which they managed to transfer troops, going to the rear of the Greeks. Having learned about this, Leonidas ordered a retreat, and he himself, along with 300 Spartans, remained to cover the retreat. All the warriors, along with their king, fell in battle. This event went down in history as an example of selfless courage and patriotism. Subsequently, a statue of a lion was installed in the gorge, on the pedestal it was written: “Traveler, go tell our citizens in Lacedaemon that, keeping their covenants, here we died with bones.”
§ 3 Defeat of the Persians
Having won a victory at Thermopylae, the Persians headed towards Athens, plundering and destroying cities along the way. In the face of the impending threat, the People's Assembly decided to transport all women, old people and children to the island of Salamis, located near Attica. All men capable of holding weapons joined the army or navy. The Persians entered deserted Athens, killed several hundred old people who refused to leave their homes, ravaged and burned the city. Soon the Persian fleet approached the shores of Attica. Not far away, in the strait between Salamis and Attica, there was a Greek fleet consisting of 380 triremes, ships with three rows of oars on each side. They accommodated 180 oarsmen and about 30 warriors. They were opposed by a Persian fleet of 700 ships. In the morning the battle began. Greek triremes, lighter and more maneuverable, pressed the Persian fleet, ramming their ships, breaking their oars, and pushing them aground.
As a result, a significant part of the Persian fleet was lost. The remaining ships were forced to retreat.
After the defeat at Salamis, Xerxes with the remnants of the fleet was forced to leave Greece. The experienced military leader Mardonius remained at the head of the Persian land army. He continued south, aiming to invade the Peloponnese. In 479 BC. The united army of the Greeks, led by the Spartan aristocrat Pausanias, finally defeated the Persian army at the Battle of Plataea. Mardonius died, and the army fled from Greece.
During the next 30 years of war, the Persians did not even think about invading Europe. Now the battles were for control of the Aegean Sea and the coast of Asia Minor. As a result, in 449 BC. peace was concluded, cementing the victory of the Greeks. According to the agreement, the Persian king agreed not to send a fleet into the Aegean Sea and liberated Greek cities in Asia Minor. The Greeks promised not to invade Persian territory. The main reason for the victory of the Greeks in the war should be considered their desire for freedom, unity and courage. Unlike the Persian army, which consisted of representatives of different tribes who were forcibly drafted into the army and therefore did not want to fight, the Greek army was united by the idea of defending their homeland.
