Major Battles in Ancient Greece

Thermopylae and Marathon Why are these battles so important?

By: Braden Posey

Battle of Thermopylae • King Leonidas led Sparta and Xerxes led the Persians• Fought between two Greek City-States• Spartans had 300 hundred soldiers vs. The Persians 10,000 immortals• When the immortals would die they would be replaced but the Spartans found out

a way to defeat them• Ephialtes was a Greek traitor who showed Xerxes the secret pass to attack the

Spartans from the rear.• Demophilius was one of the few Greek states pledged along fighting with the

Spartans.• Demophilius had 700 men died alongside the Spartans• Xerxes and his Persians went on to win the Battle of Thermopylae

Battle of Marathon• Athens vs. Persians• Persians were led by King Darius• Miltiades is a young brave soldier who was a dictator of a few Greek colonies and

was part of the Ionian Revolt• 192 of the Persians were killed • When the Spartans figured out Athens won they tour down the battle field• Phidippides ran to Athens 26 miles to tell Athens the news that they won but died

shortly after of exhaustion

Important People in Thermopylae• Leonidas Spartan Leader• Xerxes Persian Leader• Themistocles

Important people in Marathon

• King Darius Persian Leader• Phidipidies ran the Marathon • Miltiades was a dictator of a few Greek colonies

Battle of Thermopylae

Before the Battle • 46 nations under 30 Persian generals were assembled for the invasion of Greece.

When Xerxes arrived at Thermopylae he found a place was defended by a body of 300 Spartan soldiers, and 7,000 hoplites from other brought together by King Leonidas. Xerxes sent Demaratus a spy along to watch them. When the spy returned he told Xerxes that the Spartans will defend that place until their own death. Xerxes didn’t believe Demaratus and delayed his attack until 4 days later. In the 5th day Xerxes sent Medes and Cissians to take them alive and bring them into presence. When Medes and Cissians arrived they ran toward the Greeks but they fell in vast numbers. Other people took places in slain, and would not be beaten off but suffered terrible losses.

During the Battle• The Greeks, led by the Spartans defended a narrow pass against a huge army of

invading Persians for three days. When the Persians out thought the Greeks 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans fought a rear guard action so the rest of the Greeks could escape. The Spartans had fought to the last man.

After the Battle• After the Battle the Persians advanced into Central Greece

and marched into Athens to conquer Greece. Then the Persians didn’t know Athens evacuated to Salamis. Athens was prepared for the last stance against the Persian Powerhouse. Then that became the battle of Salamis.

Battle of Marathon

Before• The Persians tried to conquer Athens and take over Greece and adding people to

the Persian Empire. They were killing men and burning down buildings and after that the Greeks wouldn’t stand for it.

During• The Greeks waited and delayed their attack until 5 days later

After • Phidipidies had ran 26 miles to tell the Athenians they had won the battle but later

after that Phidipidies had died of exhaustion and before he collapsed he said victory.

Sources• www.Google.com• www.Historyforkids.com/ancientgreece