The Persian Wars between the Greeks and the Persians of the Achaemenid Empire at the beginning of the fifth century BC. They are triggered by the revolt of the Asian Greek cities against the Persian domination, the intervention of Athens in their favor causing retaliation. The two military expeditions of the Achaemenid sovereigns Darius I and Xerxes I constitute the main military episodes of this conflict; they are concluded by the spectacular victory of the European Greek cities led by Athens and Sparta. How did the Greeks win the war against the Persian?
Firstly, we will explain the origins of the war. The Persian started to conquer the Greek cities of Asia minor. In 500 BC, the Greeks showed the Persians that they weren’t going to allow …show more content…
Darius dies in 486. His successor, Xerxes, is determined to subjugate the Greek cities. To ensure the movements of his land forces he launched on the Hellespont two bridges of boats that ensure the junction between the two continents, he creates warehouses of food and weapons in Thrace. According to Herodotus, he mobilizes an army of one hundred thousand men and builds a powerful fleet of one thousand two hundred and seven triers. According to Donald Kagan, the Greek ships were fewer, slower, and less maneuverable than those of the Persians, the Greeks relied chiefly on hand-to-hand combat. In the ensuing battle the Persians lost more than half their ships and retreated to Asia with a good part of their army, but the danger was not over yet. "Meanwhile the Ionian Greeks urged King Leotychidas, the Spartan commander of the fleet, to fight the Persian fleet. At Mycale, on the coast of Samos, Leotychidas destroyed the Persian camp and its fleet. The Persians fled the Aegean and Ionia. For the moment, at least, the Persian threat was gone." (D. Kagan, 2010).
In conclusion, the Greeks defeat the Persian Empire because of the sheer tenacity of their soldiers and they wouldn’t accept the idea of being invaded by another country so they fought until they won. Another factor was that by uniting the city-states, particularly the Spartans and Athenians, it created a skilled, well balanced army that was able to defeat the Persians despite their
Firstly, we will explain the origins of the war. The Persian started to conquer the Greek cities of Asia minor. In 500 BC, the Greeks showed the Persians that they weren’t going to allow …show more content…
Darius dies in 486. His successor, Xerxes, is determined to subjugate the Greek cities. To ensure the movements of his land forces he launched on the Hellespont two bridges of boats that ensure the junction between the two continents, he creates warehouses of food and weapons in Thrace. According to Herodotus, he mobilizes an army of one hundred thousand men and builds a powerful fleet of one thousand two hundred and seven triers. According to Donald Kagan, the Greek ships were fewer, slower, and less maneuverable than those of the Persians, the Greeks relied chiefly on hand-to-hand combat. In the ensuing battle the Persians lost more than half their ships and retreated to Asia with a good part of their army, but the danger was not over yet. "Meanwhile the Ionian Greeks urged King Leotychidas, the Spartan commander of the fleet, to fight the Persian fleet. At Mycale, on the coast of Samos, Leotychidas destroyed the Persian camp and its fleet. The Persians fled the Aegean and Ionia. For the moment, at least, the Persian threat was gone." (D. Kagan, 2010).
In conclusion, the Greeks defeat the Persian Empire because of the sheer tenacity of their soldiers and they wouldn’t accept the idea of being invaded by another country so they fought until they won. Another factor was that by uniting the city-states, particularly the Spartans and Athenians, it created a skilled, well balanced army that was able to defeat the Persians despite their