The Battle of Thermopylae : Last Stand of The Greeks - Military History Animated.
Summary
TLDRIn 480 BC, during the height of the Persian Empire's power, King Xerxes assembled an enormous army to conquer Greece, following his father Darius's defeat at Marathon. The Greek city-states, led by the formidable Spartans, mounted a defense at the narrow pass of Thermopylae. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Greek hoplites, with their disciplined phalanx and superior armor, inflicted heavy losses on the Persian forces. However, a traitorous Greek farmer revealed a mountain pass, enabling the Persians to outflank the Greeks. Facing encirclement, the majority of the Greek force retreated, while a rearguard of 1,500 men, including the 300 Spartans, stayed behind to delay the Persian advance, allowing their comrades to escape. This heroic stand became a symbol of defiance, though ultimately the Persians advanced and razed Athens before being expelled from Greece after the Battle of Plataea.
Takeaways
- 🕰️ The year is 480 BC, during which Persia was the world's only superpower, having expanded its rule across much of the Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
- 🏰 King Darius of Persia had attempted to conquer Greece 10 years prior but was defeated at the Battle of Marathon. Now, his son King Xerxes is leading the largest army in history to subdue the Greeks.
- 🐎 The Persian Empire's military strategy was based on cavalry, with skilled horsemen and light infantry, contrasting with the Greek phalanx of heavily armored warriors.
- 🦁 King Leonidas, the Spartan leader, is known as 'Lion's son' and leads the Greek coalition against the Persians.
- 🛡️ The Spartan Council of Elders refused to support the war, likely due to isolationist policies and concerns over a potential slave revolt if they sent their army away.
- 📐 At Thermopylae, King Leonidas led 300 bodyguards and their slaves to command the Greek forces against the Persian army, which was estimated to be around 150,000 strong.
- 🗡️ Greek hoplites were equipped with long spears, short swords, and full metal armor, while the Persians had a mix of weapons and were lightly armored with cloth and wicker.
- 🛕 The Greeks had a decisive advantage in fortifications and shorter supply lines, which was crucial for their defense.
- 🔥 King Xerxes initially underestimated the Greek forces, sending his weakest troops first, which resulted in heavy Persian casualties with minimal Greek losses.
- 🏞️ A Greek farmer betrayed his countrymen by revealing a mountain pass to the Persians, allowing them to bypass the Greek defenses.
- ⚔️ Despite being surrounded and outnumbered, a rearguard of 1,500 men, led by the 300 Spartans, chose to stay and fight, allowing the rest of the Greek army to retreat safely.
- 🔥 After the Battle of Thermopylae, the Persians advanced towards Athens, burned it to the ground, and occupied Greece for a year before being driven out following the Battle of Plataea.
Q & A
In 480 BC, which empire was considered the world's only superpower?
-The Persian Empire was considered the world's only superpower in 480 BC, having expanded its rule across much of the Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
What significant battle occurred 10 years before the events described in the script, involving the Greeks and Persians?
-The Battle of Marathon occurred 10 years prior to the events described, where King Darius of Persia tried to conquer the Greeks but was defeated.
Who led the Persian forces in their campaign against the Greeks in 480 BC?
-King Xerxes, the son of Darius, led the Persian forces in their campaign against the Greeks in 480 BC.
What was unique about the Persian military strategy during this period?
-The Persian military strategy was unique due to their reliance on cavalry-based maneuver warfare and their expertise in horsemanship and light infantry.
Why did the Spartan Council of Elders initially refuse to support the war against the Persians?
-The Spartan Council of Elders initially refused to support the war due to stated religious observances and likely due to their isolationist tendencies, as well as concerns about potential slave revolts if a large army was sent away.
Who was King Leonidas, and what role did he play in the conflict?
-King Leonidas, meaning 'Lion's son,' was the leader of the Spartans and led the Greek response against the Persian invasion. Despite the initial refusal of the Spartan Council, he led his 300 bodyguards and their slaves to Thermopylae.
What was the approximate size of the Persian army that King Xerxes assembled to confront the Greeks?
-The Persian army assembled by King Xerxes was the largest at the time, with estimates varying but approximately 150,000 Persians marching to meet the Greek defenders.
What type of armor and weapons did the Greek hoplites use during the Battle of Thermopylae?
-The Greek hoplites used long spears, short swords, and were heavily armored with metal armor head-to-toe, along with large metal shields.
What was the strategic advantage the Greeks had during the Battle of Thermopylae?
-The Greeks had several strategic advantages: they arrived first and rebuilt an old defensive wall, had short supply lines, and the narrow pass at Thermopylae allowed them to effectively use their phalanx formation against the Persian forces.
How did the Greeks manage to conceal their numbers from the Persians at the beginning of the battle?
-The Greeks managed to conceal their numbers by building campfires to create as much smoke and light as possible, making it difficult for the Persians to assess their true strength.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Thermopylae for the Greeks and Persians?
-Although the Greeks, led by the 300 Spartans, made a heroic stand and inflicted heavy casualties on the Persian forces, they were eventually surrounded and killed. The Persians advanced towards Athens, which they burned to the ground. However, the Persian occupation lasted only a year before they were driven out of Greece following the Battle of Plataea.
Outlines
🏰 The Battle of Thermopylae: Clash of Empires
In 480 BC, the Persian Empire, under King Xerxes, sought to conquer Greece, having already expanded across the Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean. The Greeks, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, prepared to defend their homeland. The Spartans, known for their military prowess, were chosen to lead the coalition despite internal conflicts and concerns over a potential slave revolt. The Greek forces, consisting of 7,000 defenders, were significantly outnumbered by the Persian army, estimated at around 150,000. The Greeks utilized their hoplite phalanx formation, heavy armor, and strategic fortifications to their advantage. The battle began with the Greeks successfully repelling the Persian forces, who were unable to effectively use their cavalry or numbers due to the narrow battlefield. Despite initial victories, the Greeks were eventually outmaneuvered when a Greek farmer revealed a mountain pass, allowing the Persians to bypass the Greek defenses. Faced with the prospect of being surrounded, the Greeks had to decide between retreat and certain death.
🛡️ The Sacrifice at Thermopylae: A Last Stand
As the Persian forces closed in, a rearguard of 1,500 men, including the 300 Spartans, chose to stay behind to delay the Persian advance, allowing the rest of the Greek army to retreat safely. This act of self-sacrifice was both a practical necessity to protect the retreating forces and a testament to the Greek resolve. The rearguard fought valiantly on the third day, inflicting heavy casualties on the Persians before being overwhelmed and killed. The Persians proceeded to Athens, which they burned to the ground, but their occupation was short-lived. The Battle of Plataea and the Battle of Mycale eventually led to the expulsion of the Persians from Greece, marking a significant turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Persia
💡Battle of Marathon
💡King Xerxes
💡Greeks
💡Spartans
💡Thermopylae
💡Phalanx
💡Helmets
💡Immortals
💡Ancient Warfare
💡Tactics and Strategy
Highlights
The year is 480 BC, and Persia is the world's only superpower, having expanded their rule across much of the Middle East, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
King Darius was defeated at the Battle of Marathon 10 years earlier, and now his son King Xerxes raises the largest army in history to conquer the Greeks.
The Persian Empire began at Lycia, quickly conquering Egypt and Asia, utilizing their cavalry-based maneuver warfare and expert horsemen.
Greek warfare style was vastly different, relying on tight phalanx formations and heavily armored troops, contrasting with the Persian light infantry.
King Leonidas, meaning 'Lion's son', leads the Greek response against the Persians.
The Spartans, known as the most fearsome Greek city-state, were chosen to lead the coalition's army.
The Spartan Council of Elders refused to support the war, likely due to isolationism and concerns over a potential slave revolt.
Leonidas led 300 bodyguards and their slaves to Thermopylae, where they took command of the Greek force.
The Persian army, estimated to be around 150,000, marched to meet the 7,000 Greek defenders.
Greek hoplites were equipped with long spears, short swords, and full metal armor, while Persians had a mismatch of weapons and cloth/wicker armor.
The Greeks had a decisive advantage with short supply lines and fortifications, while the Persians could not afford to wait.
Greeks used smoke and light from campfires to conceal their numbers from the Persians.
On the first day of fighting, the Greeks successfully held off the Persians, resulting in heavy Persian losses.
The Persians sent their weakest forces first, and the Greek discipline shield line proved almost unassailable.
On the second day, the Persians sent in their Elite Immortals, who were countered by a Greek feigned retreat tactic.
A Greek farmer betrayed the location of a mountain pass, allowing the Persians to bypass the Greek defenses.
The Greeks faced the choice to retreat or stay and die, with 1,500 men, including the 300 Spartans, choosing to stay as a rearguard.
The selfless sacrifice of the rearguard allowed the retreating Greeks to escape, delaying the Persian advance.
Despite the heroic stand, all the Greeks at Thermopylae were killed, and the Persians advanced towards Athens.
The Persian occupation lasted a year before they were finally driven from Greece following the Battle of Plataea.
Transcripts
the year is 480 BC Persia is the world's
only superpower having expanded their
rule across much of the Middle East Asia
and the Mediterranean King Darius tried
to conquer the Greeks 10 years earlier
but was defeated at the Battle of
Marathon
now his son King Xerxes raises the
largest army in history to bring the
Greeks to heel the Persian Empire began
at Lycia it quickly conquered Egypt and
into Asia these wide open lands lent
themselves well to their cavalry based
maneuver warfare and the Persians were
known for their expert horseman and
light infantry this was a far cry from
the Greek style of tight phalanx based
heavily armored warfare King Xerxes the
son of Darius leads his people against
the Greeks King Leona das meaning Lions
son leads the Greek response the
Spartans were the most fearsome of the
Greek city-states and as such were
chosen to lead the coalition's army the
Spartan Council of Elders refused to
support the war however due to stated
lis religious observances but more
likely due to isolationism one thing to
consider here is that the Spartans
neither liked nor were liked by the
other cities there was also the
practical concern of all their slaves
called helots sending a large army far
away would be inviting a slave revolt
so leona das led his 300 bodyguards and
their slaves on a walk to Thermopylae
where they took command of the Greek
force approaching the pass from the
other side is the largest army ever
assembled at the time estimates vary
wildly but approximately a hundred and
fifty thousand Persians marched to meet
the 7000 Greek defenders armament the
Greek hoplites fielded long Spears and
short swords the Persians had a mismatch
of weapons advantage Greeks defenses the
hoplite swore metal armor head-to-toe
and had a large metal shield the
Persians were cloth and wicker the
Spartans also had fortifications
decisive advantage to the Greeks utility
the Greeks had short supply lines the
Persians relied on pre-placed food
and with the massive army to feed could
not play the waiting game and must
attack or starve the Greeks arrived
first and set to work rebuilding an old
defensive wall constructed at the past
previously as the Persians arrived the
Greeks went out building campfires to
kick up as much smoke and light as
possible to conceal their numbers for
the next four days the Persians would
send Ford Scouts and emissaries at first
thinking the Greek force was a joke or a
negotiation tactic it was not until the
5th day of their arrival that the
assault began the first day of fighting
went well for the Greeks
Xerxes sent Ford his weakest and most
expendable forces by the end of the day
only a few Greeks were killed but tens
of thousands of Persians had died
crashing against the discipline shield
line with their lightly armored force
was not working for the Persians and
they could not leverage their
exceptional cavalry or numbers due to
the tight Beach battlefield fighting
from atop the small wall the Greeks had
constructed they were almost
unassailable they stabbed down and
mercilessly killed any Persian who tried
to scramble up the wall the pass was
also narrow enough that the Greeks could
have units in reserve resting
then rotate out as the front units got
tired
the Persians unleashed tens of thousands
of arrows but the light arrows against
Greek armor were ineffective on the
second day the situation repeated itself
until Xerxes sent in his Elite Immortals
so named because when one would die
another would immediately be promoted to
replace him after a bit of a clash with
them the Greeks pulled a fast one
they feigned retreat falling back in
lockstep when the Immortals broke their
formation and darted after them
the Greeks suddenly reformed into a
solid wall and cut down the now spread
out Persians while the Greeks suffered
more losses than the first day the
Persians lost another 10,000 or so men
this simply wasn't working the Persians
had to find a way to leverage their
numbers and one soon presented itself a
few latests
a Greek farmer revealed the location of
a narrow mountain pass the Persians
could use to bypass their
the pass was guarded by Phoenicians as
the Persians approached they were true
to the high ground and made ready for
battle
however the Persians ignored them and
made their way through the pass in the
morning the Greeks would face assault
from both sides allowing the Persians to
leverage their superior numbers the
Greeks had two choices retreat or stay
and die the bulk of the Greeks retreated
however some 1,500 men chose to stay
this may have been due to a sense of
duty but there was also a practical
reason remember how I said the Persians
had exceptional cavalry well if they
were allowed through the pass they would
be able to run down the retreating
Greeks so a rearguard
was necessary to delay them a day and
allow the retreating Greeks to slip away
this selfless sacrifice led by the 300
Spartans would become something of a
myth but it was also a necessity to save
the rest of the army rather than some
grand gesture of defiance the third day
came and the Greeks attacked determined
to kill as many Persians as possible
before they were surrounded while there
was one hell of a fight they all died
killed by Persian sword and arrows the
Persians now advanced towards Athens and
burned it to the ground while Persian
occupation would last a year they were
finally driven from Greece following the
Battle of Plataea
and McHale
[Music]
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