Battle of Thermopylae

What year did the Battle of Thermopylae take place?

August 480 BCE

Where is the Pass of Thermopylae located?

On the Malian Gulf in Mainland Greece

Who led the Greek resistance force at Thermopylae?

Spartan king Leonidas and 300 Spartan warriors

Approximately how many Greek soldiers were involved in the resistance at Thermopylae?

About 7,000 soldiers from around 30 allied Greek city-states

Who led the invading Persian forces at Thermopylae?

Xerxes, king of the Persian Empire

What was the estimated size range of the Persian army at Thermopylae?

Between 70,000 and 300,000 men

What was the Ionian Revolt?

A Greek uprising against Persian rule in Ionia in 499 BCE

How did Athens respond to the Ionian Revolt?

Athens and other Greek city-states sent help to the Ionian Greeks

What was the outcome of the Ionian Revolt?

The revolt was suppressed by the Persians in 494 BCE

Who was King Darius and what was his plan after the Ionian Revolt?

Xerxes' father; he vowed revenge against Athens and planned to conquer all Greeks

What major battle stopped Darius’ invasion in 490 BCE?

The Battle of Marathon

What role did the Battle of Thermopylae play in Xerxes' invasion?

It was meant to delay the Persian army and strain their supply lines

Why was timing important for the Persians in their invasion?

They needed to complete the conquest before winter storms disrupted supply ships

What was unique about the Persian army's composition?

It was multicultural, including soldiers from many subject nations with varied equipment

How did the Spartan hoplite armor compare to Persian equipment?

Spartan armor was heavier and better suited for close combat, turning or blunting enemy blows

What was the strategic significance of the narrow pass at Thermopylae?

It allowed a smaller Greek force to hold back the much larger Persian army

How did the Greeks prepare for the Persian arrival at Thermopylae?

They built a wall across the pass and waited for the Persian army

What was Xerxes’ expectation when he first confronted the Greeks?

He expected the Greeks to run away in fear

How did the Spartans respond to Xerxes’ expectation?

They stood firm and prepared for battle, even combing each other's hair calmly

What was Xerxes’ herald's demand to the Spartans?

To surrender, warning that Persian arrows would blot out the sun

How did the Spartan officer Dienekes reply?

"All the better. Then we shall fight in the shade!"

What was the outcome of the first day's fighting?

The Greek phalanx held firm and inflicted great losses on the Persians

Who were the Persian elite troops called?

The Immortals

How did the Immortals fare against the Greek phalanx?

They were no match for the heavily armed and trained Greek soldiers

What tactic did the Spartans use on the second day to defeat the Persians?

They pretended to retreat, then turned suddenly to fight in phalanx formation

What is a phalanx?

A tight infantry formation where soldiers hold shields and spears to form a wall

How did the Greeks manage fatigue in the phalanx?

They rotated lines to give front-line soldiers rest

Who betrayed the Greeks by revealing a secret mountain pass?

A local Greek named Ephialtes

What was the consequence of Ephialtes’ betrayal?

Persian troops used the pass to surround the Greeks

What did King Leonidas do when surrounded?

Sent most Greek soldiers away but stayed with 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans, perioeci, and helots

What happened to the Thebans during the final stand?

They surrendered early in the battle

How did the Spartans fight during the last stand?

They fought until the end, using spears, swords, then hands and teeth

What happened to King Leonidas’ body after the battle?

It was decapitated and displayed by Xerxes as a warning

What strategic benefit did the Greeks gain from delaying the Persians at Thermopylae?

It bought time to evacuate cities and prepare defenses elsewhere

Where did the Athenians evacuate to during the Persian invasion?

The island of Salamis

What effect did the battle have on Greek morale?

It boosted morale and showed that a few Greeks could stand against many Persians

What battle followed Thermopylae where the Greeks defeated the Persian navy?

The Battle of Salamis

What battle ended the Persian invasion of Greece?

The Battle of Plataea

What was the lasting legacy of the 300 Spartans’ last stand?

It proved Spartan warriors never fled and inspired future generations

What did the Greeks know about the Persian army’s combat style before Thermopylae?

They fought mainly at a distance with arrows and javelins, using spears last

How did Greek hoplites’ armor provide an advantage?

It turned or blunted enemy blows, while Greek spears pierced Persian equipment

Why was Xerxes eager to complete his invasion quickly?

To avoid supply issues caused by autumn storms in the Mediterranean

How many days did the main standoff last at Thermopylae?

Four days

How narrow was the pass at Thermopylae?

Barely wide enough for two carts to pass

What was the main objective of the Greek forces at Thermopylae?

To delay the Persian advance and protect Greek city-states

How did the Persian army’s multicultural makeup affect their fighting style?

They had varied weapons and tactics but lacked the close-combat training of Greeks

What did the Spartans do to prepare mentally for battle during the standoff?

Exercised and combed each other’s hair, showing calm readiness

What was the significance of the Spartan officer Dienekes' reply to the Persian herald?

It exemplified Spartan bravery and refusal to surrender