Prescribed battles

• Battle of thermopylae fact file

  Side 1 - resistance force made up of soldiers from Sparta and king leonidas

  Side 2 - invading Persian force led by xerxes
• What cause the battle of thermopylae? - Greece

  • Persian king xerxes trying to invade and subjugate Greece
  • conflict in the second greco Persian war
  • Need to know reasons for first greco Persian war
• Why did the first greco Persian war start?

  many Greek city states in ionia were part of Persia - Greek rose up against the persian rule - Ionian revolt

  • signifcant - first Congo it between Greece and Persia and King Darius (xerxes dad) vowed to get revenge
  • led to first greco Persian war waged by Darius
• What happened after the first greco Persian war?

  darius died and xerxes tried again to try and subjugate Greece

  Persians didnt want to enslave Greeks or destroy their culture, so some states preferred to be persIan than be slaughtered
• Why did the Battle of Thermopylae start?

  coalition of 30 Greek states mounted a rebellion

  it was an attempt to delay the advance of Persian army
• Why did the Greeks want to delay the Persians?

  xerxes supplies had to be brought by ship - but Mediterranean Sea is stormy in winter and Persians couldn’t risk going hungry

  so Persians try to invade before winter

  Greeks at thermopylae knew they could hold back Persian for ever

  Greek also wanted to evacuate city states to save many lives
• Describe the Persian army

  multicultural force that had a fusion of soldiers from all nations

  their language, training and weaponry varied greatly
• Why were the Persians no match for the Greeks?

  lighter spears and short shields

  they were used to fighting people who fought like them
• describe first three events of thermopylae

  1. Greek went to thermopylae, narrow pass between mountains and sea and they built wall, waiting
  2. When Persians arrived, xerxes thought they will run away in fear - but they didnt. 4 day standoff and spartan combed their hair and exercised
  3. Xerxes sent a herald to demand Spartans surrender but they didnt
• Describe first three events of thermopylae after herald

  1. on first day of fighting, Persians suffered, didnt fight in formation and had light armour
  2. xerxes called immortals to fight, but were no match for Greek phalanx
  3. Ephialtes went to xerxes and told him about mountain pass that allow him into Greek
• Describe first three events for thermopylae after they are betrayed by ephialtes

  1. Xerxes sent large number of troops through pass
  2. Scouts warned leonidas that Persians discorde and they were surrounded and leonidas sent majority away, but stayed behind
  3. Persians reached Greek camp and spartan fought until the end
• Tactic - choice of battlefield for Greeks at Thermopylae

  narrow path of land ensured that phalanx formation by Greeks can be used and is effective
• Tactics used by Greeks at battle of Thermopylae

  stand off - Greeks stayed at camp to use their phalanx formation effectively

  scouts at mountain pass - would let leonidas know when persians pass by
• What fake out did spartans use in battle of thermopylae

  pretended to run away from Persians

  turned around suddenly in phalanx formation ready to fight
• tactic - battle of thermopylae - rotating the phalanx

  fighting on the front line was very tiring and left them vulnerable to attacks

  rotate them around to allow them to rest and fight effectively
• How does the role of leaders in BOT reflect societies involved?

  Sparta - king leonidas at the front, fighting alongside his men

  Gives his men reassurance, have someone to take orders from + confidence

  Xerxes - commanded from back, never fought
• short term consequences of the battle of thermopylae

  • 300 spartan all dead
  • leonidas body was decapitated and his head rotted on a stick - xerxes was angry by being delayed by a week
  • Greek success gave rest of allies to prepare for the invasion and evacuated to salamis
• Long term consequences of BOT

  300 spartan warriors that stood proves effectiveness of spartan system in producing elite warriors who would never flee

  improved spartan fearsome reputation

  role models for boys
• how was BOT commemorated

  Greek writer Herodotus wrote history and has a pro Greek bias
• Battle of salamis fact file

  Side 1 - allied Greek states, led by spartan general eurybiades and thermistocles devised a plan

  Side 2 - invading persian force led by xerxes
• Why did the battle of salamis happen

  Persian king xerxe wants to subjugate Greece again

  The Persians reach Athens, and burn it - everyone evacuated safely

  Greeks defend the pelopponesse devise a strategy to repel the Persians
• why do things look grim for the Greeks at BOS?

  the Greek states didnt get along with one anotheer

  many were keen to flee and to save themselves

  Persian navy was advancing but eurybiades was in charge and didn’t focus on naval warfare

  food and supplies wouldn’t last long
• according to Herodotus, what prophecy did the Greeks receive at BOS

  “only a wooden walll will keep you safe….o blessed salamis you will be the death of mother sons”
• what was the plan for BOS not made by thermistocles

  move Greek fleet south to defend Corinth

  many in favour of this plan, if battle lost they can row ashore and go back home
• What was the plan at BOS made by themistocles

  fight Persians in the bay of salamis

  utilise narrow path, neutralise Persians navy superior size

  issue - if Greeks lost, they would be stranded and defend less
• what does Herodotus and Plutarch lie of Themistocles say

  he is very persuasive when he speaks
• describe first three events at BOS

  1. Greek fleet (380) stay at island of salamis
  2. Themistocles gives speech, convincing leaders to stay
  3. as they deliberated, Persians were burning athens and you could see the smoke - some were scared and fleed
• describe events at BOS after some Greek flee

  4. king xerxes and all his commanders agreed to sail in bay of salamis, however Artemisia spoke against this, saying Greeks would have advantage

  5. Several of Greek leaders want to flee + Themistocles send messenger to xerxes, saying to attack and saying Themistocles is on the Persians side

  6. Persian ships block exit to bay of salamis, sailing for a long time tired Persians,
• Why was the battle of salamis won - tactics on ships

  Themistocles convinced Athens to build triremes, 200 made very light and manoeuvrable and effective at ramming

  persian ships opposite - large, many soldiers
• Why battle of salamis was won? - tactic on battlefield

  bay of salamis is narrow - use phalanx

  had strong tides and shallow areas that only Greek knew about
• how does BOS reflect society

  Greek general led from front, using signals and horn blasts

  xerxes wasnt even on a ship, left everything to artemisia

  gave Greeks courage

  make Persians feel weaker
• Consequences of the battle of salamis

  Lots of perian people died - bigger ships, more crew

  Many couldn’t swim because their home is landlocked

  Xerxes withdrew his forces to the east, many died of diseases

  Greece was safe!!
• long term impacts of BOS

  22 Greek cities fought together, moment of unity and cooperation

  Greek independence was secured

  victory for Athenian pride + Athenians rebuilt acropolis in grand style
• describe events of BOS at start of battle

  7. Greek ships start ramming Persian ships, ocean currents made Persian ships drift sidewards, vulnerable

  8. brother of xerxes died, caused confusion and some fleets tried to retreat

  9. Artemisia was in danger of being rammed, sp she ram her own ships to convince Greek she changed sides, then she retreated
• how was the battle of salamis commemorated?

  rebuilt acropolis in grand style using marble shows victory and pride

  art music and poem
• Persian war was significant in antiquity and later societies

  Antiquity - many cities suffered, but gained long period of peace

  This confidence was shown in art, music and philosOphy

  Later societies - tragedies written by William shakespeare
• Persian war was insignificant

  losing terrorise dint affect persian border

  would’ve have stopped creative flourishments of Greece as Persians had no interest in suppressing Greek cultture
• how was the Persian war represented in greek art?

  their success became a huge part of Greek identity

  this moment of Greek unity showed that Greek way of life was best way of life

  contrasted persians (barb) to higher greeks
• prescribed source - red figure Kylix

  Pegasus on shield - Pericles kills medusa

  Persians depicted as weaker and barbaric
• What is Andrea

  Manliness