Famous Battles of Ancient Greece Full Cinematic Documentary

Summary

The script recounts pivotal battles of the Greco-Persian Wars, including the Athenians' underdog victory at Marathon and the heroic last stand at Thermopylae. It also covers the Peloponnesian War's key events, such as the Athenians' strategic win at Pylos and the decisive Battle of Amphipolis, which led to a temporary peace between Athens and Sparta.

Takeaways

• 🏺 In 490 BCE, the Battle of Marathon took place where 11,000 Greek hoplites led by Athenian general Miltiades defeated a much larger Persian force, marking a pivotal victory in the Greco-Persian Wars.
• 🌊 The Persians sought to invade Greece due to its rich resources, particularly silver mines, and had a significant foothold in Asia Minor after defeating Lydia in 545 BCE.
• 🔥 The city of Melidis' revolt against Persian rule in 494 BCE, supported by Athens and Eretria, led to Persian King Darius sending his forces to demand submission from Greek cities.
• ⚔️ Athens and Sparta's defiance of Persian demands by killing the messengers in 491 BCE provoked Darius to invade, leading to the Battle of Marathon.
• 🗓️ The Persians' initial victories at Naxos and Eretria boosted their confidence, setting the stage for the invasion of Athens.
• 🏹 The Athenians, caught off guard by the Persian attacks, sought help from other Greek city-states, with Sparta agreeing to aid but unable to send reinforcements in time due to religious observances.
• 🏰 The advice of the exiled Athenian tyrant Hippias led the Persians to land at Marathon, where they could effectively use their cavalry.
• 🏃‍♂️ The legend of a Greek soldier running from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory gave rise to the modern marathon race.
• 🏹 The Greeks' strategic positioning and Miltiades' decision to strike first led to a surprising victory against the Persians at Marathon, with heavy Persian losses.
• 🏛️ The victory at Marathon was considered miraculous by the Greeks, who believed legendary heroes like Theseus and Heracles fought alongside them, elevating the battle's status in Greek history.
• 🌊 After the Battle of Marathon, Persian King Darius planned a larger invasion, which eventually led to the Battle of Thermopylae where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans made a heroic last stand.

Q & A

What was the outcome of the Battle of Marathon?

The Athenians, led by General Miltiades, won the Battle of Marathon against the Persian forces despite being outnumbered. This victory was a major turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars.

Why did the Persians want to invade Greece?

The Persians wanted to invade Greece in part due to its rich silver mines and to consolidate their power over the region.

What event led to the Persian King Darius sending messengers to Greek cities demanding submission?

The revolt of the city of Miletus against Persian rule, aided by Athens and Eretria, and the burning down of an important Persian temple led to King Darius demanding submission from Greek cities.

Why were the Spartans unable to send reinforcements to help Athens during the Battle of Marathon?

The Spartans were unable to send reinforcements in time due to the religious feast of Apollo Carneos, which forbade them from leaving their city until the next full moon.

How did the Greeks manage to win the Battle of Marathon despite being outnumbered?

The Greeks managed to win by employing a creative defensive strategy and launching a surprise first strike against the Persians, who were unprepared for such an aggressive move.

What was the significance of the Battle of Marathon in the development of democracy in Athens?

The victory at Marathon marked the beginning of a new era for Athens and was perceived as a blow against tyranny, which helped consolidate the institution of democracy for the next two centuries.

What was the role of the legendary heroes in the Battle of Marathon according to Greek accounts?

According to Greek accounts, the appearance of legendary heroes like Theseus and Heracles, who were believed to have returned from the dead to fight alongside the Greeks, contributed to the miraculous victory at Marathon.

How did the Battle of Thermopylae impact the morale of the Persian army?

Despite their victory at Thermopylae, the Persian army's morale was shaken as they had lost thousands of men while Greek casualties were significantly lower. This made the Persians more anxious and aware that the Greeks were not afraid to die defending their land.

What was the strategic importance of the location chosen for the Battle of Thermopylae?

The location of Thermopylae featured a narrow pass that could act as a bottleneck for the Persian army, negating their numerical superiority and offering naval advantages for the Greek fleets.

How did the Spartans' last stand at Thermopylae affect the course of the Persian invasion?

The Spartans' last stand at Thermopylae bought time for the rest of the Greek army to successfully retreat and regroup, which ultimately led to their decisive victory over the Persians in the Battle of Plataea.

What was the impact of the Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon on their prestige in Greece?

The Athenian victory at Marathon greatly enhanced their prestige, ranking them first in the ongoing competition between the Greek city-states and immortalizing their success by erecting monuments in their own city and in Delphi.

Outlines

00:00

🏃 Battle of Marathon

In 490 BCE, the Battle of Marathon was a pivotal moment in the Greco-Persian Wars. Despite being outnumbered five to one, the Athenians led by General Miltiades managed to repel the Persian forces. The victory was significant, leading to the establishment of the marathon running event. The Persians, seeking to invade Greece for its silver mines, had previously subdued Greek populations in Asia Minor after defeating Lydia. The Athenians, surprised by the Persian attacks, sought help from other Greek city-states, notably Sparta, though they arrived too late due to religious observances. The small city of Plataia did send reinforcements. The Persians, advised by a Greek exile, landed at Marathon to deploy cavalry. The Athenians, using a creative strategy, charged at the Persians without archers or cavalry, leading to a Greek victory. The battle was considered miraculous, with some claiming legendary heroes like Theseus fought alongside them.

05:00

🗽 Aftermath of Marathon and Prelude to Thermopylae

After their defeat at Marathon, the Persians attempted to invade Athens via the Bay of Phaleron but were thwarted by Athenian defenses. Darius planned a massive retaliation, and after his death, his son Xerxes continued these efforts. The Greeks, recognizing the threat, prepared for the Persian advance. The Battle of Thermopylae was a strategic move to counter the Persians, with Leonidas and his 300 Spartans famously making a stand. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Greeks held their ground until a local informed the Persians of a flanking route. The Greeks were then surrounded and forced to fight to the last man, with Leonidas falling in battle. The Spartans' sacrifice allowed the Greek army to regroup and撤退, dealing a moral blow to the Persians.

10:00

🏰 Founding of Amphipolis and the Spartan-Athenian Struggle

Amphipolis, a city in Thrace, was initially part of the region's rich and contested land. Athens established control over it in 436 BCE, but during the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan general Brasidas sought to capture it to undermine Athenian power. He managed to take the city peacefully by promising safety to its inhabitants. The Athenians, caught off guard, sent the general Thucydides to retake the city, but Brasidas had already rallied support from nearby cities. Despite Brasidas's success, Sparta did not send reinforcements, leading to a truce with Athens. The situation divided Athens, with some politicians favoring peace and others, like Cleon, advocating for war. Cleon's election as a strategist signaled a continuation of the conflict.

15:02

🛡 Battle of Amphipolis

Cleon, upon being elected, set out to retake Amphipolis, capturing towns along the way. He requested troops from Macedonia and hired Thracian mercenaries. However, his forces hesitated to attack, which Brasidas exploited by launching a surprise attack. The Athenians were unprepared and suffered heavy losses, with Cleon among the dead. Brasidas also died, and his death was honored within Amphipolis. The battle led to a temporary ceasefire between Athens and Sparta, with both sides eventually agreeing to the Peace of Nicias, which sought to restore pre-war conditions.

20:03

🌊 Demosthenes' Strategy and Spartan Defeat at Pylos

In 425 BCE, Athenian general Demosthenes, after a storm, realized the strategic importance of Pylos. Despite initial skepticism from his fleet, he established a presence there. The Spartans, caught off guard during a religious festival, were forced to respond to the Athenian threat. Demosthenes employed unconventional tactics, fighting on the shore with his hoplites. The Spartans were unable to dislodge them, and after a two-day battle, Athenian reinforcements arrived, capturing Spartan ships and cutting off Spartan access to the island of Sphacteria. The 420 trapped Spartans became hostages, forcing Sparta to negotiate a truce and later seek peace, as they were vulnerable to Athenian naval power.

25:05

🏹 Spartan Surrender and the Shift in Peloponnesian War

The Spartan surrender at Sphacteria was a significant event, as it was unprecedented for Sparta to capitulate. The Athenians used the captured Spartans as leverage, threatening to execute them if Sparta attacked. This gave Athens freedom to conduct raids, including the capture of the island of Cythera. Sparta's attempts at peace were unsuccessful, and Cleon, bolstered by his victory, gained popularity and power in Athens. The Spartan ambassadors' failed negotiations highlighted their discomfort with public speaking and the strategic weakness of their position.

Keywords

💡Persian Wars

The Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and Greek city-states that took place in the 5th century BCE. The video script describes the Battle of Marathon as a major turning point in these wars. The Athenians' victory against the Persians, despite being outnumbered, is celebrated to this day, with the modern marathon run named in memory of a soldier who ran to announce the victory.

💡Hoplites

Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. In the script, the 11,000 hoplites led by General Miltiades played a crucial role in defending against the Persian invasion at the Battle of Marathon, showcasing their importance in ancient Greek warfare.

💡Miltiades

Miltiades was an Athenian general who led the Greek forces to victory at the Battle of Marathon. His strategic decisions, as mentioned in the script, were instrumental in the Greek victory against the Persians, highlighting the role of leadership in warfare.

💡Greco-Persian Wars

The Greco-Persian Wars encompassed a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and Greek city-states. The script describes the Battle of Marathon as a significant event in these wars, emphasizing the historical importance of this period in shaping Greek independence and culture.

💡Darius

Darius I was the King of Persia who sought to punish the Greek city-states for their support of the Ionian Revolt and for their destruction of a Persian temple. His demand for submission, as mentioned in the script, was met with defiance by Athens and Sparta, leading to the Persian invasions described in the video.

💡Sparta

Sparta was one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece, renowned for its military prowess. The script refers to Sparta's agreement to aid Athens, despite being unable to send reinforcements in time for the Battle of Marathon due to religious obligations, illustrating the complex inter-city relations during the Persian Wars.

💡Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War was a war between the Athenian Empire and the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta. The script mentions the war as a backdrop to the later conflict over Amphipolis, showing how the balance of power in Greece shifted between city-states.

💡Amphipolis

Amphipolis was a city in Thrace, founded by the Athenians. Its strategic location, as described in the script, made it a point of contention between Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian War, highlighting the importance of geography in ancient warfare.

💡Brassidas

Brassidas was a Spartan general who played a key role in the capture of Amphipolis during the Peloponnesian War, as detailed in the script. His successful campaign and subsequent death in battle contributed to a temporary cessation of hostilities between Athens and Sparta.

💡Cleon

Cleon was an Athenian statesman and general who advocated for war against Sparta. His election as a strategos, as mentioned in the script, led to the end of a truce and the resumption of hostilities, including the battle for Amphipolis, underscoring the influence of political figures on military decisions.

💡Battle of Plataea

The Battle of Plataea was a significant engagement during the Persian Wars, resulting in a decisive Greek victory over the Persians. The script alludes to this battle as a culmination of Greek resistance, marking the end of the Persian threat to Greece and solidifying Greek independence.

Highlights

In 490 BCE, the Battle of Marathon took place where 600 Persian triremes landed north of Athens.

Eleven thousand Greek hoplites led by Athenian general Miltiades successfully repelled the Persian forces.

The Greeks were outnumbered approximately five to one but still managed to win.

The Battle of Marathon marked a major turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars.

The modern marathon running event is named after a soldier who ran to announce the victory of the battle.

The Persians wanted to invade Greece due to its rich silver mines.

In 545 BCE, the Persians came closer to their goal after defeating the Lydians.

The city of Melidis revolted against Persian rule in 494 BCE with aid from Athens and Eretria.

Persian King Darius demanded submission from Greek cities in 491 BCE.

Athens and Sparta killed Persian messengers, provoking Darius to invade.

The Persians captured Naxos and enslaved its inhabitants, then took the city of Eretria.

The Greeks were surprised by the ferocity of the Persian attacks and sought aid from other cities.

The Spartans agreed to aid Athens but were delayed due to religious feasts.

Athens received additional help from the small city of Platia, sending one thousand hoplites.

The Persian fleet planned to land at Phaleron but was advised to land at Marathon instead.

Athenian general Miltiades advocated for a first strike against the Persians.

The Greeks charged at the Persians without archers or cavalry, surprising them.

The Persians suffered heavy losses with approximately 6,400 casualties, while the Greeks lost only 192.

The victory at Marathon was considered miraculous, with Greeks attributing it to the appearance of legendary heroes.

After the battle, the Persians attempted to invade Athens via the Bay of Phaleron but were thwarted.

The victory at Marathon marked the beginning of a new era for Athens and a blow against tyranny.

Darius's son Xerxes continued to seek vengeance against the Greeks.

The Greeks decided to mount a defense at Thermopylae due to its narrow pass.

Leonidas and his 300 Spartans held off the Persians at Thermopylae.

The Battle of Thermopylae shook the morale of the Persian army despite their victory.

The Greeks eventually won the war against the Persians in the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE.

The land of Amphipolis was originally part of Thrace, rich in gold and silver mines.

Athens established a solid foothold in Thrace with the founding of Amphipolis in 436 BCE.

The Spartan general Brasidas captured Amphipolis without striking a blow in 424 BCE.

The battle of Amphipolis led to a temporary end of hostilities between Athens and Sparta.

The Peace of Nicias was agreed upon, returning to the status quo before the Peloponnesian War.

Demosthe nes changed the course of the Peloponnesian War by establishing a military presence in Pylos.

The Athenians captured the Spartans on the island of Sphacteria, forcing Sparta to negotiate a truce.

Cleon's victory over the Spartans on Sphacteria led to a shift in the balance of power during the Peloponnesian War.

Transcripts

in 490 bce

600 persian triremes landed on a beach

35 kilometers north of athens

standing in their way were eleven

thousand hoplites led by the prestigious

athenian general

miltieities the persian forces outnumber

the greeks approximately five to one

and yet the smaller force managed to

push back their would-be conquerors

the battle of marathon was a major

turning point in the greco-persian wars

and the athenians victory would be

celebrated for many years

the modern day distance running event is

named a marathon

in memory of a soldier from the battle

who ran back to athens to announce their

victory

though whether this is real or legend is

uncertain

the persians wanted to invade greece in

part due to its rich silver mines

in 545 bce they came closer to this goal

after their victory over crisis

the king of lydia the victory forced

some greek populations in asia minor to

surrender

and gave the persians a solid foothold

to carry out a large-scale invasion

in 494 bce the city of melidis revolted

against its persian rulers

they were aided by athens and the nearby

city of eritrea

and even burned down an important

persian temple

the persian king darius was enraged by

their sacrilege

and in 491 bce sent messengers to the

greek cities demanding their submission

athens and sparta killed the persian

messengers

goading darius to invade the persians

began their attacks

first capturing the city of naxos and

enslaving its inhabitants

then taking the city of eritrea filled

with confidence from their string

of victories the persians set their

sights on athens

the greeks were surprised by the

ferocity of the persian attacks

seeking aid against the upcoming

invasion athens was forced to appeal to

other cities for help

in a surprising move they asked for aid

from sparta

known for having the strongest army in

greece

the spartans agreed to the request but

they were unable to send reinforcements

in time due to the religious feast of

apollo carneos

which forbade them from leaving their

city until the next full moon

the only extra help athens managed to

acquire was from the small beyocean city

of platia

which sent an additional one thousand

hoplites

this was the first time in greek history

that their entire civilization was under

attack

from an external invader despite sharing

the same language and same religion

greek city-states had often ward amongst

themselves

the persian invasion was the first time

they realized the necessity of

collective action to ensure their

survival

the persian fleet originally planned to

land at the port of falaron

however the exiled athenian tyrant

hippies who sided with the persians

advised them to land at marathon instead

where it would be easier to deploy

cavalry

the athenians were unaware of the

persian battle plans

and left marathon undefended this

allowed the persians to quietly set up

camp on the beach

while athens scrambled to mount a

defense

the persian's overwhelming numerical

superiority

forced the athenians to get creative

with their defensive strategy

the city sent ten thousand hoplites

along with the extra one thousand

plutian reinforcements

to a hill located above the persian

encampment

once in position athenians had to decide

whether to wait for the persians to

attack

or to strike them first athens

strategists believed the former option

was better

but the general militias believed a

first strike was more advantageous

as the persians had their backs to the

sea in the end

militia's opinion prevailed and the

greeks made their move

according to herodotus the greek forces

charged at the persians without archers

or cavalry

the persians were unprepared for what

they saw as an act of madness

while they were able to hold the greeks

back at first they were eventually

pushed back to their ships

and forced to retreat the persians

suffered heavy losses during the battle

with approximately six thousand four

hundred casualties

the athenians on the other hand only

lost 192 soldiers

the victory at marathon was considered

miraculous

the greeks attributed this miracle to

the appearance of legendary heroes

who they allegedly saw returned from the

dead to fight at their side in defense

of the city

for example several athenians swore they

saw the mythical king

theseus take up arms at marathon a scene

which would later be depicted in athens

agora

similarly some hoplites attested that

heracles appeared a marathon

clad in his lion's skin and wielding a

club

the supposed appearance of these heroes

helped elevate the battle of marathon to

a legendary status among the greek

people

after the persians fled marathon they

tried to invade athens by way of the bay

of falaron

however this gave the athenians time to

return to their city

and mount a proper defense fearing

further losses

the admiral of the persian fleet called

off their attack

and the persians returned to their

empire

darius was furious at the campaign's

failure and decided to seek vengeance in

a retaliatory expedition from both

land and sea meanwhile sparta

begrudgingly congratulated athens on

their victory

the victory at marathon marked the

beginning of a new era for athens

according to herodotus athens success

that pushing back the persians

ranked them first in the ongoing

competition between the greek

city-states

the athenians immortalized their

prestige by erecting monuments in both

her own city

and in delphi the battle of marathon was

also perceived as a blow against tyranny

tyranny went from being perceived as a

simple flaw in authoritarian access

to major treason against the homeland a

sin that rulers would take great pains

to avoid being accused of

this helped consolidate the institution

of democracy for the next two centuries

the persian king darius's cries of rage

echoed for years

after his humiliating defeat at a

marathon

even after dice's death his son xerxes

continued to seek

vengeance against the greeks according

to iscalis

asia was emptied of all its men greek

spies brought the news of xerxes

imminent invasion back to their homeland

afterwards many discussions were had on

the best place to mount a defense

in the end the greeks decided on

thermopylae

the area featured a narrow pass that

could act as a bottleneck for the

persian army

negating their numerical superiority it

also offered naval advantages

offering the greek fleets opportunities

for flanking

five thousand peloponnesian greeks set

up at a fort near the entrance of the

narrow passage

otherwise known as the hot gates

leading them was leonidas a spartan king

who prided himself on supposedly being a

direct descendant of heracles

leonidas was accompanied by several

elite soldiers

who together made up the famous 300

spartans

the persian army arrived in the summer

of 480 bce

preceded by a flood of rumors regarding

their strength and numbers

it was claimed they consumed six

thousand

tons of wheat every day and that they

dried every river and brook they passed

to quench their near insatiable thirst

during their march to thermopylae

the persians faced no opposition and in

fact

increased their numbers further by

recruiting more soldiers from other

greek cities and places

like thrace according to herodotus

the last count of the persian fleet was

numbered at 1

207 boats mounted by approximately 240

000 men he estimates the land army

meanwhile

was made up of more than one million men

the greek

forces at thermopylae were heavily

outnumbered

xerxes believed that at the site of his

massive

army the greeks at thermopylae would

flee

in terror instead they deliberated

the majority of the peloponnesians

wanted to engage the persians

on the isthmus of corinth leonidas

meanwhile

believed it was wiser to stay put in

thermopylae

while the greek forces debated a persian

horseman was sent to spy

on the enemy he returned to xerxes with

surprising news

not only were the greeks not fleeing but

the spartans guarding the fort

were exercising and combing their hair

a far cry from the fearful soldiers

xerxes expected

to increase the pressure on the greeks

xerxes waited

four more days then attacked on the

fifth

the persians faced heavy resistance and

suffered many losses

and herodotus says xerxes leaped three

times from his chair

seized with fear for his army the

following day proved to be just as

difficult for the persian forces

and the greeks continued to stand their

ground

the persians seemed poised to be held at

thermopylae indefinitely

until an inhabitant from the region came

forward with information

he told the persians of another route

which could take them around

thermopylae a persian contingent was

sent to verify the information

while there were greek soldiers

stationed to guard the route

they were forced to flee from the

persians

thus on the third day of the battle the

greeks were surrounded by their enemy

[Music]

with the persians both in front of and

behind them

the greek forces at thermopylae realized

they had two choices

flee to live another day or stand and

fight

till their last breath most of the

greeks chose the former option

but some stayed including leonidas

and his 300 spartans for the spartans

dying a glorious death was one of the

highest honors they could achieve

the few members of leonidas spartans who

did not participate in the last standard

thermopylae

felt that they had missed an opportunity

for honor and either committed suicide

or continued living under the mockery

and disgust

of their fellow citizens the spartan's

last stand was not only for glory though

had they not hold off the persians the

greeks retreating forces

would probably have been cut down by

enemy horsemen

on the morning of the third day king

xerxes was assured of his victory

however that victory did not come easy

king leonidas himself fell in battle

and a furious fight broke out around his

body

the spartans fought to the last man and

when they had all been

slain leonidas body was brought before

xerxes

according to herodotus persians usually

honored

the most courageous warriors even if

they were enemies

however xerxes was so consumed

by rage at the spartans resistance that

instead

he cut off leonidas head and ordered it

impaled on a stake

a statue of a lion was later erected on

the hill of the spartan's last stand

in honor of leonidas's bravery

[Music]

though they were victorious the battle

of thermopylae

shook the morale of the persian army

they had lost

thousands of men while greek casualties

only numbered in the hundreds

and due to the sacrifice of the spartans

the rest of the greek army had been able

to successfully retreat

and regroup

as a result even as xerxes set up camp

at the foot of athens's acropolis

ready to get revenge for his father's

humiliating defeat at marathon

the persians were more anxious than

confident

they were more aware than ever that the

greeks did not fear them

and were ready to die defending their

land

in the end the battle of thermopylae was

still a loss for the greeks

however the battle gave the greeks a

boost in morale that carried them all

the way to their decisive victory over

the persians

in the battle of platya in 479

bce with the war against the persians

finally won

the greeks were able to honor the

sacrifice of leonidas and his spartans

with memorials and poems forever

solidifying the glory of sparta's

military prowess

the newfound respect for sparta was

noteworthy

because before the war the city was seen

as no more than a bully

who forced itself into the affairs of

others

thermopylae changed the opinions of

sparta for the better

and gave them a legitimate claim to be

one of greece's most powerful

and influential cities

the land that would come to be known as

amphipolis

was originally part of thrace a region

inhabited by formidable semi-nomadic

horsemen

thrace was rich in gold and silver mines

it was surrounded by lush forests

making it very attractive to outside

parties like greece and persia

by 513 bce persia had managed to conquer

much of thrace

but after their defeat in 479 bce

athens made a play for the land they

conquered the nearby island of thesauce

in 465

bce but the military prowess of the

thracian riders

kept them out of the country's interior

it was only in 436 bce

that athens established a solid foothold

in thrace

with the founding of amphipolis a city

on the banks of the river strymon

during the peloponnesian war the spartan

general bresitas sought a way to subvert

athenian power across the greek world he

set his sights on capturing the coast of

thrace

hoping to seize the resources the area

provided

brassidas knew that many of the greeks

living in thrace hated the greed and

brutality of their athenian neighbors

and decided to take advantage of the

situation he set off on an expedition to

amphipolis

accompanied by 1 000 hoplites and 700

helots

and arrived before the city in the

winter of 424 bce

at amphipolis ramparts brasidis

announced that he preferred to take the

city peacefully

and promise to allow safe passage to any

inhabitants who wish to leave

in addition to sparing those who wanted

to cooperate

this proposal was well received by the

city's residence

and he was able to capture amphipolis

without striking a single blow

brassidis march on amphipolis blindsided

the athenians

by the time they heard the news and

dispatched the general thucydides to

defend amphibolis

bersitas had already rallied several

nearby cities

to help him defend the region from

athens so-called tyranny

after half a day's journey from the

south thucydides arrived at the port of

aeon

but was unable to retake amphipolis

athens held thucydides responsible for

the loss of amphibolis

and forced the general into exile in

spite of bresitas's achievements

sparta did not send him reinforcements

which forced the general to negotiate a

truce with athens to hold on to the

ground he gained

the matter of how to deal with

amphipolis divided athens

the politician nikias as well as the

city of sparta

hoped that peace could be negotiated

however the popular athenian statesman

and general cleon

wanted to continue fighting the war

indecision continued until

422 bce when cleon was elected as one of

athens strategists

this decision made it clear that the

city's people were in favor of war

the truce was ended and cleon began his

journey to amphipolis

retaking small towns that had been

conquered by brasitas along the way

on arriving at the port of aeon cleon

requested troops from the king of

macedonia

he also hired several thracian

mercenaries to bolster his forces

numbers

afterwards all cleon could do was wait

for the remainder of his reinforcements

while they waited the athenian forces

began to resent cleon's hesitation to

attack

they saw him as soft and incompetent

especially compared to their opponent

bracidus sensing the tension cleon

decided to act without waiting for

reinforcements to arrive

he set out from the port of eon to

observe amphipolis

setting up a camp on a nearby hill

to cleon's surprise amphipolis appeared

to be completely unprotected

with no guards stationed at the city's

gates and ramparts

however the city's lack of protection

was only an illusion

even so upon seeing this cleon regretted

that he did not bring wooden towers

which would have allowed him to easily

recapture the city

brasitas positioned his own troops in a

nearby wooded area

to get a better view of cleon's army

when the athenians began moving to set

up camp

bursitis returned to amphipolis he

believed his army was less well-trained

than the athenians

and decided to rely instead on cunning

tactics

and cleon's inexperience as a military

leader bresitas organized a two-prong

attack

he would personally lead a small raid

then one of his lieutenants would follow

up with a second attack shortly after

disorienting the enemy he had barely

finished formulating his plan

when he saw cleon's army pack up and

retreat back towards the coast

the cowardly display made bresitas

realize that perhaps victory would be

easier than he thought

after seeing persitus's troops return to

amphipolis

cleon decided to fall back to the port

of eon and once again wait for

reinforcements

unfortunately his exact orders were

confusing and contradictory

which left the athenian forces in

disarray

procedures took advantage of this

confusion and began his attack

cleon's forces panicked which made them

easy prey for the spartans

600 athenians were killed while the

spartans only lost

seven men cleon's remaining forces took

refuge in aeon

where the bodies of their comrades were

eventually returned to them

though only after being stripped of

their weapons

during the pitch battle between the

spartans and the athenians

both proceedus and cleon were killed

the reports of their respective deaths

reflect how they were perceived as

military leaders

we know almost nothing about cleon's

death other than that he was killed by a

thracian soldier

proceedus meanwhile survived long enough

to be taken back to amphipolis

where he was informed of his victory he

was buried inside the city

which was considered an honor bestowed

only upon heroes

and was celebrated as the true founder

of amphipolis

the battle of amphipolis temporarily put

an end to the hostilities between athens

and sparta

the athenian forces returned to perez

while sparta called back the

reinforcements they'd sent for proceedus

the death of both brassidis and cleon

encouraged the two cities to push for

peace

the negotiations took time but sparta

and athens eventually agreed to return

to the way things were before the

peloponnesian war

the resulting treaty became popularly

known as the peace of miches

throughout the greek world it was mostly

agreed that sparta had lost the war

in spite of procedures heroic efforts

the sentiment was rooted in the fact

that sparta had failed

to end athens domination over greece

something they had promised to do at the

start of the war

since 431 bce the peloponnesian war had

been raging between athens

sparta and their allies with neither

side gaining much ground

but in 425 bce an athenian general named

demosthenes changed that

after a storm forced his fleet to stop

in pilos

demosthenes realized a military presence

in the area

would give them an advantage against

sparta unfortunately

the fleet strategists did not believe

him and left demosthenes and pilas with

five triremes and one thousand men

the spartans meanwhile were too busy

celebrating a religious festival

to notice the enemy on their doorstep

once sparta discovered the athenian

presence on pilos

the spartan king aegis mustered his

troops and fleet

sparta then descended on demosthenes

outpost attacking from both the sea

and the mainland the athenian general

had to mount a hasty defense

he pulled his boats back to the foot of

the ramparts and fixed them in place

with stakes

providing extra cover then going against

all the established rules of battle he

descended with his hoplites to fight on

the rocky shore

where he believed the spartans would

disembark his gamble paid off

and the spartans did indeed attempt to

land at this location

though demosthenes forces made them

hesitate one of the spartan leaders

bersitas decided to make the first move

by ramming the rocks with his boat

exclaiming it's only a few planks he

paid for his actions

when his shield slipped into the sea

after descending from his boat

leaving him open to many blows the

battle raged on into the night

and continued to the next day remaining

locked in a stalemate

however on the evening of the second day

athenian

reinforcements arrived

the sudden arrival of the athenian fleet

stacked the odds in athens favor

the fleet decided to hold off their

attack until the next day

when they swarmed the spartan ships they

successfully captured

five enemy ships and damaged many others

cutting off access to the nearby island

of bacteria

then to add insult to injury the

athenians raised a stake

hung with weapons they'd captured from

the spartans including the shield of

brassidis

meanwhile the 420 spartans on bacteria

were trapped

and sparta was completely helpless to

rescue them

with 420 of their men trapped on

bacteria

sparta needed to re-evaluate their

position the spartans on the island were

essentially the athenians hostages

and sparta could not move to rescue or

resupply them

without putting their lives in danger in

an effort to save the trapped soldiers

the spartan leadership negotiated an

immediate truce with the athenian

strategists

sparta agreed to hold back its fleet and

halt their attacks on pilos

and in return the athenians permitted

them to send supplies to their men

in the meantime sparta sent ambassadors

to athens to try and negotiate a better

deal

the hasty truce greatly humiliated

sparta

as they were forced to recognize just

how helpless their infantry was

in the face of an athenian fleet

to bargain for the safety of their men

sparta sent ambassadors to athens

to propose a cessation of hostilities

the ambassadors tried to emphasize

that their situation was not a result of

strategic incompetence or lack of

strength

but rather plain bad luck according to

them

the spartans on bacteria did not deserve

to suffer further

because they were trapped through no

fault of their own these statements

provoked the ire of cleon

a popular athenian politician known for

his populist speeches

cleon insisted that the terms of

negotiations be discussed openly before

the assembly

and the athenian people instead of in

private the spartan ambassadors were not

as comfortable with public speaking as

the athenians

so they decided to leave

following the failed attempts at the

spartan ambassadors hostilities resumed

back in athens cleon took matters into

his own hands

after being elected general or strategos

he left to join the ongoing battle

accompanied by javelin armed infantry

and archers

with renewed strength and numbers the

athenians landed on

bacteria and engaged their enemy

the battle was hard fought but they

eventually managed to surround the

remaining spartans

it was then that cleon invited the

spartans to surrender

as they hoped to return to athens with

prisoners the spartans were exhausted

after spending 72 days on the island

so they accepted cleon's offer and lay

down their arms

a spartan capitulation had previously

been unheard of

and the news of their surrender echoed

throughout greece

like thunder the spartans capitulation

completely

changed the course of the peloponnesian

war athens used their new prisoners of

war

as leverage and threatened to execute

them if sparta ever returned to pillage

their lands

this gave the athenians the freedom to

conduct their own raids

which were aided further by their

eventual seizing of the island of

cathera

sparta tried to negotiate for peace but

were unsuccessful

cleon meanwhile was emboldened by his

victory

and continued to gain popularity with

the athenian people

popularity that translated to power