territorial Expansion
A Greek force of approximately
7,000 men marched north to block the pass in the summer of 480 BC. The Persian
army, alleged by the ancient sources to have numbered over one million but
today considered to have been much smaller,[] arrived at the pass in late August or
early September. The vastly outnumbered Greeks held off the Persians for seven
days before the rear-guard was annihilated in one of history's most famous last
stands. During two full days of battle, the small force led by Leonidas blocked
the only road by which the massive Persian army could pass. After the second
day of battle, a local resident named Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks by
revealing that a small path led behind the Greek lines. Leonidas, aware that
his force was being outflanked, dismissed the bulk of the Greek army and
remained to guard their retreat with 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, 400 The bans,
and perhaps a few hundred others, most of whom were killed.
After this engagement, the Greek navy under the command of the Athenian politician Themistocles at Artemisium received news of the defeat at Thermopylae. Since the Greek strategy required both Thermopylae and Artemisium to be held, and given their losses, it was decided to withdraw tosalamis. The Persians overran Boeotia and then captured the evacuated Athens. The Greek fleet seeking a decisive victory over the Persian armada attacked and defeated the invaders at the battle of the salamis in late 480 BC. Fearful of being trapped in Europe, Xerxes withdrew with much of his army to Asia, leaving mardonius to attempt to complete the conquest of Greece. However, the following year saw a Greek army decisively defeat the Persians at the battle of the plataea, thereby ending the Persian invasion.
Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae
After this engagement, the Greek navy under the command of the Athenian politician Themistocles at Artemisium received news of the defeat at Thermopylae. Since the Greek strategy required both Thermopylae and Artemisium to be held, and given their losses, it was decided to withdraw tosalamis. The Persians overran Boeotia and then captured the evacuated Athens. The Greek fleet seeking a decisive victory over the Persian armada attacked and defeated the invaders at the battle of the salamis in late 480 BC. Fearful of being trapped in Europe, Xerxes withdrew with much of his army to Asia, leaving mardonius to attempt to complete the conquest of Greece. However, the following year saw a Greek army decisively defeat the Persians at the battle of the plataea, thereby ending the Persian invasion.
Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae