Themistocles was responsible to a great extent for the Greek victory in the Persian wars. His role as both a political and military leader were crucial in the naval development of Athens and the Greek states, which allowed them to win the battle of the sea, resulting in a sense of confidence allowing them to be the victors of the final battles fought in Plataea and Mycale. Themistocles also played a vital role in both the battle of Artemisium and Salamis, which were significant to the overall Greek victory over the Persians. His political skills of oration proved of paramount importance in maintaining the Greek unity at Salamis as well as convincing Greek citizens to trust his tactics and methods, which evidently seized victory. The battle of Artemisium highlights Themistocles role in achieving victory for the Greeks.
Kholod. This article discusses the political propaganda used by the Persian Empire during their war with Alexander the Great. Most people would immediately think that the propaganda was used directly towards Alexander. However, the Persians directed their propaganda towards the Greeks. They did this because their success depended a great deal on the Greek’s position.
Leadership and Strategy in the Battle of Marathon Leadership and strategy played a vital role in the final outcome of the Greco-Persian wars from the battle of Marathon in 490bc to the battle of Mycale in 479bc. The Greeks used their determination, sacrifice and knowledge of local terrains to beat the larger Persian forces. Generals such as Miltiades, Themistocles and Leonidas of the Greeks and Mardonius and Xerxes of the Persian all played their own important roles. The battle of Marathon in was a watershed in the Greco-Persian wars. Its final outcome went down to the superior battle strategy of Miltiades and also went down to a bit of luck.
How did the experience of the Ionian Revolt and the Battle of Marathon affect the Greek defense against the Persian invasion of 480 BC? The Ionian Revolt and the Battle of Marathon provided the Greeks with a vast experience of Persian tactics and the opportunity to review their own performance in warring with this power. Through the victory achieved at Marathon and the loss in Ionia the Greeks were able to use their knowledge of Persia to decide on who would lead their force, gave them the motivation to form alliances, enabled them to devise effective strategies for fighting the large Persian army and motivated far reaching naval reforms. The reactions of the Persians to the Greeks as a result of these two battles also prompted the Greeks into action, as they were more aware of this threatening foe. The involvement of Athens and Eretria in the Ionian revolt according to Ehrenberg “put Athens into the center of the unfolding story of the Persian wars”.
To overlook the role of Spartan culture in relation to their stand at Thermopylae would be to overlook one of the most influential aspects of the battle. Spartan culture was one of great complexity having many intricate characteristics, which adapted to the situations that they held witness to. Spartans were people of extreme patriotic pride and military prowess, who sought perfection in every form. But equal to their patriotism was their oppressive tactics towards their captives. Spartans weren’t people who believed in the concept of freedom.
The plan of the prominent Athenians had however already been put into motion and as the emissaries were finding out that they were not going to get the Persian gold they had been promising, the political clubs in Athens were organising for a vote to abolish the democracy. Thucydides does mention some terror tactics being used such as the murder of political opponents but he does not put too much stress on the subject. With the prominent Athenians now aware that the original proposal to establish an oligarchy and pursue the war with Persian gold is not going to happen they change their plans and instead establish an oligarchy of the four hundred backed up by an assembly of the five thousand and promising to pursue the war with their own private fortunes. Using the power of the organised political clubs and most probably intimidation the motion was passed and Athens then became an oligarchy. In 404/3 the Athenians also voted to abandon the democracy but instead of the vote being influenced by political clubs and intimidation by various Athenians it was
The naval supremacy of the Greeks is highlighted in the tactics used at Artemisium. Themistocles’ kyklos, a defensive manoeuvre in which the ships formed a close circle with their rams facing outwards, not letting the greater numbers of the Persian fleet surround them. Another tactic used by the Greek navy on the Persian force was the penplus tactic. This involved ramming the sides of the Persian ships and sheering off the oars. This tactic also delayed the Persians, as they had to complete repairs on their ships in order to proceed
It was fought at the pivotal point in the conflict when things were looking grim for Greece, with Athens abandoned and only the Peloponnese remaining free. The engagement was supposed to be an easy victory for the Persians: their ships were better-designed and more numerous. Their crews were also more experienced and better-trained. However, it was Greek tactics and Persian over-confidence that changed the course of the battle, the result of which was thought by many to be a foregone
Ruling the former Persian Empire turned out to be more difficult than defeating it. But Alexander was insightful about how an empire should be run and wise in his decision to retain satrapies and features of Persian government. Like previous
With the Balance of Power destabilising, which, according to Thucydides, is the only means to achieve peace, the growth of power in Athens caused the Spartans to feel more and more insecure and thus they started to prepare to defend themselves. This very much reflects the realist point of view, as it argues that without a Balance of Power there can be no peace and it also shows how easily the balance can be dis-rupted so that it causes a war. Thucydides that war may be justified on grounds of pursuit of the national interest and in order to achieve peace at last. However, there are differences as to what is a ‘legitimate’ national interest. Where for political realism everything that is in the interest of the state and can be achieved by