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492 BCE
Fall of Naxos
The invasion of the island of Naxos by the Persians marked the beginning of the first Persian invasion of Greece. Link text -
492 BCE
First Persian Invasion begins
Darius decides to try to conquer Europe and expand the Achaemenid Empire. He decides to start by invading Greece. -
490 BCE
Battle of Marathon
The first Persian invasion led by Darius ended in the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Marathon just north of Athens. Link text -
486 BCE
Death of Darius
Shortly after the Egyptians revolted against the Persians, Darius died and was succeeded by his son Xerxes. Link text -
481 BCE
Hellenic League
The Hellenic league formed together which unifies the Greek city-states to prepare for the second Persian invasion. -
480 BCE
Battle of Thermopylae
The famous battle of the 300. King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors hold off the Persian army for 3 days but ultimately fall to Xerxes army. -
480 BCE
Xerxes captures Athens
Xerxes forces pushed through Greece after the battle of Thermopylae and eventually found their way to Athens. The Persians were met by very little resistance as Athens was pretty much abandoned by then. Once he took Athens, Xerxes decided to burn the city to the ground and pillage the city. -
480 BCE
Battle of Salamis
One of the major battles of the second Persian invasion. The Greek navy led by the Athenian commander Themistocles, heavily outnumbered were able to defeat the Persian fleet in a decisive victory. -
479 BCE
Battle of Plataea
The final major land battle of the second Persian invasion of Greece. Xerxes forces were defeated near the city of Plataea in the Boeotia region. Link text -
478 BCE
Creation of the Delian League
After the Greeks defeated the Persians and Xerxes, they formed a new alliance among the city-states called the Delian League. United under the leadership of Athens,
