Themistocles (c. 524 – c. 460 BCE) was an Athenian statesman and general (strategos) whose emphasis on naval power and military skills were instrumental during the Persian wars, victory in which ensured that Greece survived its greatest ever threat.
What was Themistocles plan to fight the Persians?
The main elements of Themistocles’ strategy are summarized as follows: All Athenians would go onboard the ships to fight in the sea . The navy would be divided into two fleets. One would remain in Attica to protect Salamis, and the second would engage the enemy at Artemision.
Who was Themistocles and what was his role significance in the Persian wars?
Themistocles, (born c. 524 bce—died c. 460), Athenian politician and naval strategist who was the creator of Athenian sea power and the chief saviour of Greece from subjection to the Persian empire at the Battle of Salamis in 480 bce.
Did Themistocles defeat the Persians?
However, Themistocles argued in favour of an offensive strategy, aimed at decisively destroying the Persians’ naval superiority . He drew on the lessons of Artemisium, pointing out that “battle in close conditions works to our advantage”. He eventually won through, and the Allied navy remained off the coast of Salamis.
How did Themistocles prepare for war?
Themistocles’ tactic was to use reinforced ships to ram into Persian vessels , at which point small units of hoplites would board the enemy ships and dispose of the remaining soldiers. Despite fighting against much greater numbers, the tactic was a success and the Athenians won.
What was the weakness of the Persian military?
Weaknesses: fewer soldiers ; only 31/~200 poleis helped (others were neutral or sided with persians); greek command structure wasn’t uniform (many different poleis = different commanders, who takes charge?)
Who betrayed Sparta?
In popular media. In the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, Ephialtes was portrayed by Kieron Moore and is depicted as a loner who worked on a goat farm near Thermopylae. He betrays the Spartans to the Persians out of greed for riches, and, it is implied, unrequited love for a Spartan girl named Ellas.
Who won the Persian War?
Though the outcome of battles seemed to tip in Persia’s favor (such as the famed battle at Thermopylae where a limited number of Spartans managed to wage an impressive stand against the Persians), the Greeks won the war. There are two factors that helped the Greeks defeat the Persian Empire.
How was mardonius killed?
Mardonius prepared to meet them at the Plataea, despite the opposition from another Persian commander, Artabazus, who, like Artabanus, did not think that the Persian army could automatically defeat the Greeks. Mardonius was killed in the ensuing battle by the Spartans (see Battle of Plataea).
What was an important result of the Greco Persian Wars?
What was an important result of the Persian wars? It preserved the Greek’s independence and made sure that Persia did not conquer all of Europe . What were the Greeks able to use to win the Battle of Salamis? The Greeks used fast ships to ram into the Persian ships.
Who was the first Persian king to invade Greece?
The Battle of Marathon . 0 Reviews. First Invasion of Greece Darius I, King of Persia, decided he wanted to conquer the Greeks in 490 BC. The first Persian invasion of Greece, during the Persian Wars, began in 492 BC, and ended with the decisive Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
Why was Aristides called the just?
Aristides (520s – c. 467 BCE) was an Athenian statesman and military commander who gained the honorific title ‘the Just’ through his consistent selfless behaviour in public office .
Battle of Salamis , (480 bc), battle in the Greco-Persian Wars in which a Greek fleet defeated much larger Persian naval forces in the straits at Salamis, between the island of Salamis and the Athenian port-city of Piraeus. ... The Greeks sank about 300 Persian vessels while losing only about 40 of their own.
What enemies of did Greece face during the life of Themistocles?
The Spartans and Athenians were foremost in this alliance, being sworn enemies of the Persians . The Spartans claimed the command of land forces, and since the Greek (hereafter referred to as “Allied”) fleet would be dominated by Athens, Themistocles tried to claim command of the naval forces.
What made Themistocles a good leader?
Themistocles was the son of a middle-class Athenian father and a non-Athenian mother. Ability alone made him influential. He advocated resistance to Persia when some wanted appeasement, and he urged the development of Athens’s navy when most trusted in its army.
How did Themistocles impact the future?
Themistocles’ plan had worked. The fate of Athens, and the future of Greece, would rest at Salamis. Because of the cunning and intellect of Themistocles, the Greek allied fleet won a decisive victory at Salamis. ... There, the Greeks destroyed the advances of the Persian forces, and Xerxes retreated back into his homeland.
