AH14: Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC)
The Battle of Plataea that ended the Persian invasion, and the establishment of the Delian League.
Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC)
The Battle of Plataea that ended the Persian invasion, and the establishment of the Delian League.
Key Fact: After Salamis, Xerxes returned to Persia leaving Mardonius with an army to complete the conquest of Greece
Key Fact: Mardonius tried to divide the Greeks by offering Athens favourable terms; Athens refused and the city was evacuated again
Key Fact: At Plataea (479 BC), the Greek army under the Spartan regent Pausanias defeated the Persians; Mardonius was killed
Key Fact: The Battle of Mycale (479 BC) was a simultaneous Greek naval victory that destroyed the remaining Persian fleet in Ionia
Key Fact: Plataea became a symbol of Greek unity and liberation; annual ceremonies honoured the dead for centuries
Key Fact: The Delian League was formed in 478 BC to continue the war against Persia and liberate Greek cities in Asia Minor
📋 Key Vocabulary and Concepts
For Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC), you must know:
- Mardonius: The Persian general left in command of the army after Xerxes returned to Asia; killed at Plataea
- Pausanias: The Spartan regent who commanded the Greek army at Plataea; later disgraced for collaborating with Persia
- Battle of Mycale: A Greek naval victory (479 BC) on the coast of Ionia that destroyed the remaining Persian fleet and encouraged Ionian cities to revolt
- Aristeides: The Athenian general who organised the formation of the Delian League in 478 BC; known as 'the Just'
- Libation: A ritual pouring of liquid as an offering to the gods; performed annually at Plataea to honour the war dead
❓ Practice Questions
Q: Why did Mardonius fail to divide the Greeks?
Q: Describe the Battle of Plataea.
Q: What happened at the Battle of Mycale?
Q: How was Plataea commemorated?
Q: What was the significance of the formation of the Delian League?
✅ Answers
- Mardonius offered Athens generous peace terms, including rebuilding their temples, if they switched sides. The Athenians refused, replying that they would never betray Greece. When Sparta hesitated to send help, Athens threatened to accept Mardonius' terms, forcing Sparta to act.
- The Greek army (about 80,000) under Pausanias faced Mardonius' Persian force (perhaps 120,000-300,000). After initial manoeuvring and supply problems, the Greeks attacked. The Spartan right wing crushed the Persian left, killing Mardonius. The Persian army collapsed and fled to their fortified camp, which the Greeks then stormed. The victory ended the Persian invasion.
- The Greek fleet under the Spartan king Leotychides arrived off the coast of Ionia. A mutiny among the Ionian contingent of the Persian fleet led to the disarming of Ionian troops. The Greeks landed and attacked the Persian camp, destroying it. This victory sparked revolts across Ionia.
- Plataea became a sacred site. Annual ceremonies included libations, speeches and athletic contests honouring the war dead. The Plataeans maintained the graves of the fallen Greeks for centuries. The battle symbolised Greek unity and freedom against tyranny.
- In 478 BC, Greek states formed the Delian League to continue the fight against Persia and liberate Ionian cities. Athens became hegemon. The League initially served Greek interests but was gradually transformed by Athens into an empire, showing how the aftermath of victory created new conflicts between the Greek states.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Plataea = decisive land battle ending the invasion, 479 BC
- Athens refused Mardonius' terms — key to Greek unity
- Mycale = simultaneous naval victory, sparked Ionian revolts
- Aftermath: Delian League (478 BC) eventually became Athenian Empire
📝 Exam Technique
GCSE Ancient History Exam Tips — Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC):
1. For Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC), include specific factual detail: dates, names, events and statistics where relevant
2. For source questions, analyse provenance (who, when, why, audience) before using the content
3. In evaluation questions, discuss multiple factors and weigh their relative significance
4. Always link back to the question focus — don't just narrate what happened with Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC)
5. Use phrases like 'the most significant factor was... because...' to show analytical judgement
1. For Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC), include specific factual detail: dates, names, events and statistics where relevant
2. For source questions, analyse provenance (who, when, why, audience) before using the content
3. In evaluation questions, discuss multiple factors and weigh their relative significance
4. Always link back to the question focus — don't just narrate what happened with Plataea & the Aftermath (479 BC)
5. Use phrases like 'the most significant factor was... because...' to show analytical judgement
⚠️ Common Errors
✗ The Persian Wars ended at Salamis ✓ Salamis was the turning point but the war continued. Plataea (479 BC) was the decisive land victory that ended the Persian invasion, and Mycale destroyed the remaining Persian fleet
✗ The Greeks were united throughout the Persian Wars ✓ Greek unity was fragile. Some Greek states medised (sided with Persia), and Athens had to threaten to accept Persian terms to force Sparta to fight at Plataea. Unity was pragmatic, not idealistic
✗ Pausanias was a hero of Plataea ✓ Pausanias commanded the victorious Greek army but was later accused of collaborating with Persia (offering to marry Xerxes' daughter and enslave Greece). He starved to death in a Spartan temple where he had taken refuge
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Describe the events of 479 BC that ended the Persian invasion and explain the significance of the aftermath. [6 marks]
After Salamis, Xerxes returned to Persia leaving Mardonius with a substantial army. Mardonius attempted to divide the Greeks by offering Athens favourable peace terms, but Athens refused, declaring they would never betray Greece. This forced a reluctant Sparta to commit its army. At Plataea (479 BC), the Greek army under the Spartan regent Pausanias confronted Mardonius' forces. After supply difficulties and complex manoeuvring, the Spartans on the right wing crushed the Persian left, killing Mardonius. The Persian army collapsed and fled to their camp, which the Greeks stormed. Simultaneously, at Mycale on the Ionian coast, the Greek fleet destroyed the remaining Persian ships, sparking Ionian revolts against Persian rule. Plataea became a sacred site of Greek liberation, commemorated annually for centuries. The aftermath was profoundly significant: in 478 BC, the Delian League was formed under Athenian leadership to continue the war against Persia and liberate Greek cities in Asia Minor. However, what began as a voluntary defensive alliance gradually became the Athenian Empire, as Athens used the League's resources to dominate its allies. The Persian Wars thus ended one threat but created the conditions for another: the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The victory at Plataea also established a powerful narrative of Greek freedom versus Persian tyranny that shaped Greek identity for generations.
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Analysis
AO1 (Knowledge & Understanding): Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of plataea & the aftermath (479 bc), including key events, individuals, and developments in the ancient world relevant to OCR J198.
AO2 (Explanation & Analysis): Explain and analyse historical events and periods related to plataea & the aftermath (479 bc), using historical concepts such as causation, consequence, change, continuity, similarity and difference.
AO3 (Source Analysis & Interpretations): Analyse, evaluate and use sources and interpretations related to plataea & the aftermath (479 bc), considering provenance, utility and the construction of historical arguments.
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🎬 Video Resources
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