Timeline of Classical Greece | Timeline of the Persian Wars
Battles of the Persian Wars are named for their locations. The following timeline shows the major battles of the Persian Wars (Greco-Persian Wars) in chronological sequence.
502
Naxos. Revolt precipitating the Ionian revolt.
c. 500 B.C. - Ionian Revolt in Asia minor
498
Sardis. Persians led by Aristagoras with Athenian and Eretrian allies occupied Sardis. The city was burned and the Greeks met and were defeated by a Persian force. This was the end of the Athenian involvement in the Ionian revolt.
492
Naxos. Persians invaded; inhabitants fled; the Persians burned the town, but Delos was spared.
490
Eretria. Persians under Datis (later defeated at Marathon) given the city within a week by traitors. Inhabitants enslaved.
481 Greek League
Greek league against Persia, with Sparta in charge of the army, and Athens, the navy.
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Map
Potidaea and Olynthus. Persians on their way back from Salamis to Thessaly lay seige to Potidaea and Olynthus. Olynthus was given to the Chalcidians who were faithful to the Persians. Potidaea successfully withstood a 3-month siege.
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August
Mycale. Soon after Plataea, Athenians attacked Persians; Ionian allies deserted the Persians leading to Greek victory.
End of Persian Invasion of Mainland Greece
Athens, in charge of the Delian League, went on the offensive to free the Ionian cities.
478
Sestus. Taken by the Athenians. Beginning of the Athenian Empire.
Byzantium. The Spartan Pausanias delivered most of Cyprus from Persian rule. He then went to Byzantium where he did the same. However, he oppressed the Greeks there which led the eastern Greeks to seek the protection of Athens.
477 - Aristides forms Delian League
476/5
Eion. Cimon captured this important Persian stronghold east of the Hellespont.
Doriskos. Athenian fleet attempted to take Doriscus. We don't know the results.
468
Eurymedon (River). Cimon delivered the coast towns of Caria from Persian rule. Fought the Persians by land and sea. Made southern Asia Minor, from Caria to Pamphylia, part of the Athenian federation.
456
Prosopitis. Greeks were stranded by the Persians in Egypt. They capitulated and were allowed to leave.
450/449
Cyprus, Salamis. Phoenicians were establishing the authority of Artaxerxes in Cyprus when Cimon was sent to deal with them. Although Cimon died, the Greeks achieved a double victory.
449 - Peace of Callias
Persia and Athens sign peace treaty.Source: J.B. Bury. A History of Greece.
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> > Fifth Century B.C. Timeline > The Persian Wars
The Timeline of the Persian Wars in a Table
Ionian Revolt in Asia minor| 502 | Naxos. | Revolt precipitating the Ionian revolt. |
| c. 500 B.C. | Ionian Revolt in Asia minor | |
| 498 | Sardis. | Persians led by Aristagoras with Athenian and Eretrian allies occupied Sardis. The city was burned and the Greeks met and were defeated by a Persian force. This was the end of the Athenian involvement in the Ionian revolt. |
| 492 | Naxos. | Persians invaded; inhabitants fled; the Persians burned the town, but Delos was spared. |
| 490 | Eretria. | Persians under Datis (later defeated at Marathon) given the city within a week by traitors. Inhabitants enslaved. |
| 481 | Greek League | Greek league against Persia, with Sparta in charge of the army, and Athens, the navy. |
| 480 | Battle at Thermopylae |
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| 479 | Battle at Salamis |
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| Potidaea and Olynthus. | Persians on their way back from Salamis to Thessaly lay seige to Potidaea and Olynthus. Olynthus was given to the Chalcidians who were faithful to the Persians. Potidaea successfully withstood a 3-month siege. | |
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| August | Mycale. |
Soon after Plataea, Athenians attacked Persians; Ionian allies deserted the Persians leading to Greek victory.
End of Persian Invasion of Mainland Greece
Athens, in charge of the Delian League, went on the offensive to free the Ionian cities. |
| 478 | Sestus. |
Taken by the Athenians. Beginning of the Athenian Empire.
Byzantium. The Spartan Pausanias delivered most of Cyprus from Persian rule. He then went to Byzantium where he did the same. However, he oppressed the Greeks there which led the eastern Greeks to seek the protection of Athens. |
| 477 | Aristides forms | Delian League |
| 476/5 | Eion. | Cimon captured this important Persian stronghold east of the Hellespont. |
| Doriskos. | Athenian fleet attempted to take Doriscus. We don't know the results. | |
| 468 | Eurymedon (River). | Cimon delivered the coast towns of Caria from Persian rule. Fought the Persians by land and sea. Made southern Asia Minor, from Caria to Pamphylia, part of the Athenian federation. |
| 456 | Prosopitis. | Greeks were stranded by the Persians in Egypt. They capitulated and were allowed to leave. |
| 450/449 | Cyprus, Salamis. | Phoenicians were establishing the authority of Artaxerxes in Cyprus when Cimon was sent to deal with them. Although Cimon died, the Greeks achieved a double victory. |
| 449 | Peace of Callias | Persia and Athens sign peace treaty. |
| Source: J.B. Bury. A History of Greece. | ||
