The Battle of Thermopylae saw a force of 7,000 Greek hoplites, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, hold a narrow mountain pass against the massive Persian army of Xerxes I for several days. Though the Greeks were eventually outflanked due to betrayal, their stand allowed time for other Greek cities to prepare for invasion. This delaying action was followed by Greek naval victories at Salamis and Mycale, culminating in a land victory over the Persians at Plataea, securing Greek independence.
The Battle of Thermopylae saw a force of 7,000 Greek hoplites, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, hold a narrow mountain pass against the massive Persian army of Xerxes I for several days. Though the Greeks were eventually outflanked due to betrayal, their stand allowed time for other Greek cities to prepare for invasion. This delaying action was followed by Greek naval victories at Salamis and Mycale, culminating in a land victory over the Persians at Plataea, securing Greek independence.
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The Battle of Thermopylae saw a force of 7,000 Greek hoplites, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, hold a narrow mountain pass against the massive Persian army of Xerxes I for several days. Though the Greeks were eventually outflanked due to betrayal, their stand allowed time for other Greek cities to prepare for invasion. This delaying action was followed by Greek naval victories at Salamis and Mycale, culminating in a land victory over the Persians at Plataea, securing Greek independence.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Under threat of another invasion, a confederate alliance of Greek city-
states is formed in 481 BC at a meeting in Corinth.
A force of 10,000 hoplites are sent north to the Vale of
Tempe near Mt. Olympus (far north) Vale of Tempe • Spartans led by Euanetus • Athenians by Themisticles • Alexander I of Macedon informs them that the Persians can get around that pass, and they retreat. • Carneia festival – Military activity forbidden by Spartan law – Judged sufficiently important to disregard – What happened at Marathon – Consulted the Oracle of Delphi • Either a Spartan king must die • Or Persia will sack Greece A NEW ATTACK • Persians made plans for another invasion – With goal of conquering entire peninsula – Led by new emperor, Xerxes • Greeks prepare for invasion by setting up defensive line stretching from pass at Thermopylae to northern tip of Euboea • Thermopylae was narrow pass through mountains – Since only a few soldiers could get through at a time, Greeks hoped it would nullify Persian numerical advantage – 7000 men held pass commanded by King Leonidas of Sparta – Xerxes offers Leonidas kingship of Greece and then asks for their weapons; Leonidas replies Μολoν Λαβέ, "Come and get them" • Persians could not make any headway against Greeks for several days – Greek traitor, Ephialtes, led Persians around pass and they came in behind Greeks • Leonidas sent most men away and kept the 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans to hold the pass • Wiped out by Persians archers Battle of Salamis • Athens evacuated population to nearby island of Salamis – Persians hesitated to attack because Bay of Salamis was full of Athenian ships
• Athenians tricked Persians into
entering bay with their navy – Smaller, more maneuverable Athenian ships then destroyed Persian fleet • Xerxes withdrew back to Asia Minor Final Victory: Battle of Platea • Xerxes still had 300,000 man army in Greece; Mardonius in command (dies in battle) • Spartan commander Pausanias set up camp in plain below Persian army at Plataea 479 BC – 5,000 Spartiates – 5,000 Perioikoi – 35,000 Helots – 50,000 Other city-states – Persians attacked but Spartans counter-attacked and achieved victory • Naval victory, Battle of Mycale the same day over the Persian fleet • A few weeks later, Athenian navy liberated Ionian city-states • Alliance of Spartan land power and Athenian naval power had defeated the most powerful empire in the world