Greek victory over the Persians in 490 to 480/479 BC Essay

Assess the footings for the Grecian success over the Iranians in 490 to 480/479 BC. Make a judgement based on outcome, results and values.The actors for the Grecian conquest against the Persians in 490 to 480/479 BC was a mixture of transcendent leading, skilful maneuver and dodging, maestro weapons and soldiers, and classic bingle. bullocky leaders was the nearly important aspect of the Hellenic defence, as without the intelligence and bravery of the leaders, the Hellenics would get under geniuss skin been tardily scourgeed. As a result of the sensitive leadership Greek play, strategy, and unity were abundantly strengthened. Combined with their sofdecade weapons and soldiers, the Greeks held the advantage and seized opportunities at the perfect moment. Also, with to all(a)(prenominal) one victory the Greeks grew much surefooted of success and defiant of the Persian endeavors to invade. The curt organisation and disarray of their competitor direct to an undermining of the Persian might and further improved Greeces chances of success. disdain the lack of gloweringicial unity end-to-end Greece, many brilliant leaders from individual cities unite their skills and abilities to belt down the Persians. Greek leadership demonstrable from weakly and conflicting to fall in and strong, directly contri besidesing to a Greek victory over the Persians as they promoted unity, strategy and a determination to defend their homeland. Without this firm leadership, the several(prenominal) early(a) reasons for Greek success would non exist as strongly.Despite the Greeks strong defiance of Persia, Darius and many of his council inactive absurdly believed that they could good overcome the Greeks. They were short comprehend as they saw only personal fame and notoriety to be gained, and as a result, did not have for the possibility of difficulties, and certainly not defeat. This arrogance reflects the poor leadership from the Persian si de, which aided the Greeks in defeating them.When Darius invaded, on that point was conflicting debate at capital of Greece as to whether they should defend the city walls or meet the enemy. however Miltiades excellent leadership persuaded the council to take supplies and leave the city if the Persians landed. This is seen in the Miltiades Decree.Despite organism the Polemarch, Callimachus relied on advice from Miltiades who had in depth experience in Persian combat. As opposed to the Persians, the Greeks were willing to co operate in the defence of their country which directly lead to their success. both Callimachus and Miltiades convinced the Athenian Assembly to send an the States to Marathon.At Marathon, the 10 strategoi were equally divided in decision as to whether to fire the Persians or retreat, as they were heavily outnumbered. A decision was make to snipe, and each of the generals was given one day to hold in eclipse. Aristides and three separate leaders gave their leadership reign over to Miltiades. This meant that Miltiades was in command for five out of the ten old age of skirmish, and cod to the generosity of the other generals, was adequate to(p) to care safey plan a much more effective attack over five days instead of one. When Miltiades was informed that the Persian calvary was absent, he timed the attack to surprise the Persians.We know comme il faut to realise the whiz of Miltiades generalship at every(prenominal) stage his decision to march to Marathon, his determination to attack, his hollow of the suitable opportunity, and his tactical dis piazza of the infantry line of credit. (Hammond)It was this brilliance that allowed the Greeks to win at Marathon, which directly increased their assertion and improved future chances of defeating the Persians.The Persian leaders Datis, Hippias, and Artaphernes were confident of a victory over Athens later their defeat of Eretria. Their experience at Eretria will have encouraged them to believe that there would be divisions among the Athenians at Athens, and possibly on the field. (Bury& Meiggs)They therefore did not indicate the Athenians to challenge them at Marathon, and dismissed their own cavalry. This rideish decision costed them the appointment as the Athenians would have been affright by the excellent Persian cavalry, which could have easily defended a Greek attack. It is this arrogance and poor perceptivity from the Persian leaders that added to a Greek victory. later the death of Darius, his son Xerxes was persuaded by his overconfident adviser Mardonius to attack the Greeks, and in doing so, Mardonius exaggerated Greek weaknesses and character. all the same when Damaratus repeatedly told Xerxes that the Spartans were the bravest and best championers of Greece, Xerxes still mocked them for their appearance and actions. For quaternity whole days he suffered to go by, expecting that the Greeks would legislate away. (Herodotus)Contrasting with P ersias arrogant and assuming leaders, Greece produced the finest leadership after Marathon. Themistokles was an example of excellent leadership, as he prepared for the possibility of re toniced attacks from Persia. He fortify the Piraeus bay, and used surplus to build 100 new triremes to fight against the Persians.The pre eminent importance of his statesmanship was due in the graduation place to his insight in discerning the potentialities of his city and in grasping her patch before any one else had grasped it and then to his postal code in initiating, and his adroitness and perseverance in following, a policy which increase his city, and could alone have raised her, to the position which she attained before his death. (Bury& Meiggs)Themistokles clever tactics and strategy emerged from his high quality leadership, as he care estimabley selected the positions and methods for the Greek defence.Themistokles persuaded the Greek navy to passage of arms against the Persians despite being outnumbered as Artemisium. Herodotus says that Themistokles even bribed some of the navy leaders to keep the Greek unity together. He again exhibited his leadership skills when he aforethought(ip) the attack on the Greek navy. Themistokles chose excellent time and precision in attacking the Persians where the weather, tide, and condense go do it difficult for the enemy. At Artemisium, The Persian admirals did not know the coastal waters of the Greek peninsula, and they were relatively inexperienced in naval war furtheste (Hammomd) The Persians were non trade unionised as they did notexpect attack and discriminate because of their lack of competent leaders.At Thermopylae, Leonidas was a responsible, respected, and valorous leader and despite facing inevitable death, he continued to fight for the Greek cause, whilst dismissing many of the other soldiers from battle because he tendered their safety. (Herodotus)Sparta was given boilers suit command but did not abuse her sources as a leader. The fact that Sparta did not seek to aspirate her own Alliance and assert her own supremacy, but preferred to treat as an equal with the other states and let them choose their leader, is an outstanding mark of her far sighted statesmanship. (Hammond). This again contrasted with the competitive and all-for-one nature of the Persian leaders, as the Greek leaders promoted unity and alliance.Themistokles similarly cleverly chose the position of the battle at Salamis so that the Greeks few numbers would be placed at the biggest advantage- Themistokles had managed that a naval battle should be fought at Salamis, and under the conditions most favourable to the Greeks. (Bury& Meiggs). as yet the Persians were sternly generalled and this spread chaos without the Persian navy.Themistokles made an extremely clever and face plan to fool the Persians at Salamis. He sent a break ones back to tell Xerxes that the Greeks would attempt to escape during the night through the straits. The Persians wasted their energy guarding the exits and in the morning the Greeks successfully attacked them. Themistokles ingenious plan lead to the defeat of the play out Persians at Salamis, and once again proved that the important reason for the Greek victory was the insightful and daring leadership shown at that time.Pausanius won the most sharp victory which history records (Herodotus) at Plataea. He implant it necessary to withdraw from Plataea as the battle had developed into a stalemate. Whilst the Persian leader Mardonius take for granted that the Greeks would be weak whilst they were changing position, the Greeks counter attacked. yet when the main body of Persians had drawn up withinbowshot behind their fence of wickerwork shields, the order to manoeuvre was given, and the heavy Peloponnesian infantry dashed at a run upon the enemys lineThe result was decisive. (Kagan)The clever strategies used by the Greeks were a direct result of their qualified l eaders, and lead to the defeat of Persia. All the messs and tactics chosen by the Greeks contributed immensely to their victory and was the second most important reason for the Greek triumph.Miltiades chose Marathon as a strategical site for the battle- the high lands surrounded both roads to Athens and hid the Athenians until the perfect moment to attack. Due to Miltiades source knowledge, he knew that the Persians would be strong towards the centre, and so he placed the skilled Athenian infantry into go to en banding the Greeks. Miltiades aimed at surprising the Persians and the men aerated at the double and hurled themselves upon the Persian infantry. (Hammond)This was the first time such an attack had been attempted, and the creativity and excellent strategy was all due to the amazing mightiness of the leaders, Miltiades and Callimachus. The run created fear and confusion in the Persian ranks and allowed the Greeks to finishing in before the Persian bowmen could twist th eir arrows. Despite the Persians breaking through the middle Greek troops, the Greek wings wheeled just about to attack the Persians from the rear, as Miltiades planned. He had even organised the attack so that the Persians could only flee north towards a difficult marsh, where many died.The Persians did not realise the Greek tactics and strategy, as they underestimated their ability. Instead they believed that the Athenians were bereft of their senses, and lot upon their own destruction for they saw a spotless handful of men coming on at a run without either horsemen or archers. (Herodotus) As they were caught unaware, the Persians had little time to adopt new tactics for battle. Their strategic preparation was poor.At Thermopylae, Leonidas selected his position carefully, and fought in a narrow pass in which the Persians had hindrance in passing through. This greatly advantaged the Greeks, as the narrow space could only admit a weeportion of the Persian armament.They as wel l as had a gem wall to protect the army camp. In addition, the Persian cavalry were unable to fight in the fine area, which would increase the Greek chances of winning dramatically. The Spartans planned strategies on drawing the Persians into the pass and would then wheel around and attack them.Themistokles understood that the Greeks were unable to fully defeat the Persians over land and selected Artemisium as the ideal location to battle their navy.At Artemisium the Greek leaders developed strategy of combining the triremes to form a circle facing outwards to attack the Persians. This plan overcame the single out of being greatly outnumbered.Themistokles carefully chose the timing and position of the battle. The strategy of drawing in the Persian die into narrow waters meant that the enemy ships began to collide with each other. Themistokles waited until the tide rose and began to push the Persian ships off course, the low-built Athenian triremes, which were less affected by th e s well up, rowed in to the charge and rammed their opponents, shearing their oars or holing their sidesA great victory had been won by tactical skill, by the use of the ram, and by the struggle quality of the Greek marines. (Hammond)Despite using citizen troops, the Greek hoplites were better adroit and equipped than the Persians. The hoplites wore bronze visored helmets, solid bronze breast plates, and carried longer shields and javelins. On the contrary, the Persians wore light armour, wicker shields and used bows and arrows, which became useless in close contact. The aim in which the hoplites were famous for was shown through their ability to girdle the Persians and attack from the rear. In hand to hand trash their defeat of a more numerous enemy was due to their courage, spearmanship, general and the finest infantry force in her whole history. (Hammond)At Artemisium, the navy was extremely well disciplined whilst facing many Persian ships touch them. They responded to tw o signals and successfully formed a close circle to attack the Persians. This shows the exceptional skill from the sailors that contributed to their victory.both the Spartan hoplites and the Tegeans were acknowledged as having great fighting skills and discipline at Plataea- by the superb expression and skill of the Spartan hoplites, who proved themselves to be the finest infantrymen not of Greece alone but of the civilised world. (Plutarch, Aristides)Thus the marvellous skill and ability of the Greek soldiers, feature with their superior weapons contributed immensely to their victory.The battle at Marathon was to be a direct planned attack by the Persians on Athens. After the downfall of Eretria, Athens united under their leaders like Miltiades and planned on how to save the city. Their appeal to Sparta for aid was reluctantly refused as the Spartans had an important religious festival to attend to. Despite Spartas inability, the Plataeans sent help in full force (Herodotus), an d 2000 Spartans did arrive soon after the battle and congratulated the Athenians on their defeat. No one in antiquity doubted the sincerity of the religious scruples which had prevented them from participating in the battle. (Kagan?)Sparta and Athens now joined hands to disapprove the invasion as they were singled out by Persia as the Greek leaders. (Bury& Meiggs)In 481 BC the congress at Isthmus united 31 Greek states to establish the possible Persian threat. Athens discarded her hire to leadership, knowing that the other states would prefer Sparta to lead. In doing so, a quarrel that may have divided the union was avoided. All past disputes were ended, and deadly enemies Athens and Aegina combined their naval superiority.The meeting of the Greeks was an attempt to combine all the scattered cities of the Greek world to withstand the power of Persia. (Grote)Themistokles issued the Troezen decree so that all Athenians may in unity ward off the Barbarian (Troezen Decree) by callin g back Greek exiles. This plan was clever, as the exiles like Xanthippus and Aristides combined their efforts to resist the Persians, despite being previously forced to leave their own country.At Thermopylae the Thespians stayed entirely for their own accord, refusing to retreat and declaring that they would not forsake Leonidas and his followers. (Herodotus) Despite the number of forces joining the army at Thermopylae, many of them, including the Spartans were unwilling to provide full assistance as they did not think it was workable to defend the northern states. Thus unity was at times strained and lacked the full force it potentially had.Mardonius attempted to offer peace with the Athenians in an attempt to undermine Greek unity and overpower the Spartans. However the Athenians angrily refused, displaying their courage and alliance with the Greek cause. Mardonius made a second offering, and he even believed they would turn their minds. The underestimating of the Greek unity and Athenian determination was one reason why Persia failed to defeat Greece. Artistides declared that, so long as the sun continued in his course, the Athenians would attack the Persians with the aid of the gods (Kagan)The campaign of Plataea was the finest doing of Greek unity. (Kagan)23 states took an oath of comradeship to fight together until the Persians were defeated, and over 100 000 Greeks joined the battles. In comparison with the Greeks, the Persians were ominously competitive. Pausanius and his second in command Artabazus were rivals and schemed to take control and glory from each other.The strongest reason for a Greek victory against the Persians in 490 to 480/79 was the extraordinary ability of the leaders. This led to the next most important reason- the cunning tactics and strategies used by the Greeks. The skill of the Greek soldiers and their superior armour alsogreatly contributed to their victory, as only their bravery and aptitude would help them overcome the size of the Persian army. unity was the least contributing factor throughout the battles as it was inconsistent and was only really significant when Athens and Sparta joined forces.