The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars. After three days resisting the much larger persian army of xerxes i, greek forces were betrayed by ephialtes and sent into retreat by their leader, leonidas, who died during a final stand. Having been turned back at marathon in 490 bc, persian forces returned to greece ten years later to avenge their defeat and conquer the peninsula. Thermopylae is the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic between lokris and thessaly. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than treachery of. They request assistance, so that they may stop xerxes at the northern border of greece. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. Responding, an alliance of greek citystates, led by athens and sparta, assembled a fleet and an army to oppose the invaders.
Id wager almost as much time was spent on plateau, salamis and artemisium as thermopylae which seemed odd given the title. Thermopylae and the book of esther associates for biblical research. Discusses all of the colorful quotes and legends about the battle but also analyzes what is historical fact and what is apocryphal fiction. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 15, 2019 herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Amongst these warring citystates arose athens, and a group of men who had a. Gates of fire is a 1998 historical fiction novel by steven pressfield that recounts the battle of thermopylae through xeones, a perioikoi born in astakos, and one. To be fair, this book is exactly what the title sells it as.
The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. How herodotus might have come to know about the battle of. Western democracy traces its roots to ancient greece, a land of squabbling citystates. The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay.
The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. This passage from north to south along the east coast of the balkan peninsula requires use of the pass and for this reason thermopylae has been the site of several battles. The battle of thermopylae the persian empire under the rule of king darius was expanding to europe and had already conquered thrace and macedonia before attempting to subjugate the rest of greece. Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that claimed to be the descendent of the demigod hercules. The greek force was very small but was determined to make a. Artistic representation of the battle of thermopylae. Its clumsy phrasing and unnecessary, so i suggest it is removed. The great battle of thermopylae and the valiant fight of 300 fearless spartans under the command of warrior king leonidas against 10,000 elite persian soldiers is one of. Thermopylae, the battle for the west is instead a good, concise recap of the grecopersian war.
Internet archive book images commons war during the olympics. The battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece. This book is about the battle of thermopylae in ancient greece, where 300 spartans fought to the death. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world.
Steven pressfield brings the battle of thermopylae to brilliant life. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. Themistocles, general of the greek naval forces, sought to attack the persians before. Having stated this at the beginning of the twentysecond logos, herodotus feels compelled to express an opinion which he knows to be unpopular. The name of it is gates of fire written by steven pressfield. Whats the best book youve read on the battle of thermopylae. What can this event show us about the book of esther. Though this book is titled improperly, it is still an engaging reference for the entire war, and would serve as a good introduction for the student who is learning about the grecopersian war for the first time. Read thermopylae and the book of esther by associates for biblical research on christian blogs. A masterful account of the causes, preparations for and consequences of the threeday battle in 480 b.
The battle that changed the world reprint by cartledge, paul isbn. Thermopylae books about the battle of thermopylae thoughtco. An impressively accessible narrative depicting the threeday battle for the pass at thermopylae the hot gatesa critical contest in xerxess massive invasion of. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. The extent of the greeks geographical knowledge of the world can be reconstructed from considering regions and places mentioned by contemporary authors. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia. Nov 21, 2019 the great battle of thermopylae and the valiant fight of 300 fearless spartans under the command of warrior king leonidas against 10,000 elite persian soldiers is one of the most brilliant moments. Finnuci, began his first class with a vivid description of the battle of thermopylae. Explains thermopylae s legacy from both historical and cultural standpoints. Feb 06, 2020 strangely enough, its a book of historical fiction. Mar 12, 2019 the battle of thermopylae, fought between the greeks and the persians in 480 bce, has gone down in history as one of the most significant last stands of all time, despite the fact the hero, the greeks, walked away from this battle defeated and on the brink of complete destruction.
The battle of thermopylae is an epic 480 bc clash between persian emperor xerxes and spartan. Apr 08, 2019 the battle thermopylae 480 bc herodotus histories. But the greeks, led by leonidas and a small army of spartan warriors, took the battle to the persians and nearly. Battle of thermopylae spartans vs persians youtube. The main source for the battle of 480 is herodotus, histories, 7. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt. Explore the site of a battle at thermopylae, described by herodotus, and the subject of two 21st century movies. The battle of thermopylae was the first between the persians and greeks during the persian invasion of 480479 bc. This activity presents the longest and most challenging reading assignment from herodotus. The battle of thermopylae audiobook by captivating. Thermopylae and the book of esther associates for biblical. Herodotus tells us about loyal thessalian envoys, who visit the council of the allied cities in the spring, when xerxes is still at the hellespont.
Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Battle the persian armys march to thermopylae had been delayed several days by the unexpected storm that caused significant damage to their fleet. The battle of thermopylae audiobook by captivating history. The battle of thermopylae is perhaps the most wellknown and celebrated battles in european history. The battle of thermopylae is believed to have been fought in august 480 bc, during the persian wars 499 bc449 bc.
Pressfield brings the battle of thermopylae to brilliant life, and he does for that war what charles frazier did for the civil war in cold mountain. Decisive round amid the march westward, the persian calvary engaged the greek forces and the battle shifted to a twofront struggle, with pausanias and the spartans facing the main weight of mardoniuss forces on the rightwing, while the athenians to. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae 8601400142950. This book more than any other book, by far is the best read in a historical novel i have ever read. There are also links to commentary on the battle of thermopylae. This book goes into detail about everything that has remotely anything to do with the greek and persian relationship leading up to the war and the battle between the two empires but does not cover in detail the actual battle of thermopylae in that great of detail.
Western civilization february 8, 2009 the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories the battle of thermopylae, which herodotus recorded in his writing the histories, was one of the most arduous and notable battles of western history. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. The edsitement launchpad includes links to maps and images of the soldiers and the terrain on which the battle was fought. While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Apr 14, 2020 beyond thermopylae, i will also focus on many other famous encounters during the war of similar or equal importance, such as the battle of salamis 480 b.
Id wager almost as much time was spent on plateau, salamis and artemisium as. The battle of thermopylae charles river editors on. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. Dont let the title fool you however as the scope of the book is not limited to just the battle of thermopylae. I am a teacher whose love of history began with a highschool western civilization class. An epilogue and three quite brilliant appendices which might simply have formed additional chapters in the book examine in particular the. In 480 bc, a huge persianarmy, led by the inimitable king xerxes, ente. I know this book is fiction, but it is on the usmc commandants reading list, is taught to the corps of cadets at west point, annapo. The battle of thermopylae is one of the most heroic battles in the annals of military history. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than. Amongst these warring citystates arose athens, and a group of men who had a funny idea. Nominally, xerxes expedition was directed against athens, but its real objective was the conquest of the whole of greece. These have appeared in a range of media from plain text to historical fantasy.
The battle of thermopylae was a military confrontation. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae by pressfield, steven from amazons fiction books store. The battle that changed the world cartledge, paul on. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary course hero. The battle that changed the world, by paul cartledge. Feb 03, 2020 the battle of thermopylae the persian empire under the rule of king darius was expanding to europe and had already conquered thrace and macedonia before attempting to subjugate the rest of greece. Similarities between the battle of thermopylae and the battle of persian gate have been recognized by both ancient and modern authors, which describe it as a kind of reversal of the battle of thermopylae, calling it the persian thermopylae. But the greeks, led by king leonidas and a small army of spartans, took the battle to the persians at thermopylae and halted their advance almost. Themistocles, general of the greek naval forces, sought to attack the persians before they could regroup and while they were working on repairs. Strangely enough, its a book of historical fiction. Understand how the geography of the area has changed, and consider how the retelling of stories leads to the writing of history. The greek loyalists battle for six days in a prelude to their ultimate victory. Jul 04, 2019 yet, a couple of months later they concluded that it was better to stand at the thermopylae straits about 150 km 93 miles to the north of athens, where, however, only a total of 7,000 hoplites could gather. Beyond thermopylae, i will also focus on many other famous encounters during the war of similar or equal importance, such as the battle of salamis 480 b.
Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. Dec 22, 2018 western democracy traces its roots to ancient greece, a land of squabbling citystates. This is a professional historians view of not just the battle of thermopylae itself, but the context of the greek and persian worlds it fit into. Spartas last stance is one of the most important battles during the persian war and one of the great mysteries of ancient history. It took place in 479 bc near the city of plataea in boeotia, and was fought between an alliance of the greek citystates including sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of xerxes i allied with boeotians, thessalians, and macedonians. Its pretty obvious that the battle of thermopylae was a military confrontation. While many ancient and modern historians alike have viewed the glorious battle to be a prime portrayal of patriotism and the defense of an independent nation against foreign invasion, no one has surpassed the acclaim of british historian ernle bradfords 1980 book, thermopylae. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. The battle that changed the world paperback november 6, 2007.