The Battle of Thermopylae Essay Example

The battle of Thermopylae was one of the most influential battles in ancient history. This major war between the Greeks and the Persians was very important, especially to the Greeks, because they did not want to lose a part of their country (Stewart 55). This battle was so essential, in fact, that our world could be governed by a monarchy. However, the results of the Greeks saved our world from total chaos. All of our art, science, and astronomy would not have been discovered if the Persians had won the famous battle of Thermopylae (Stewart 100). 

The placement of the armies was very important to the strategy of the battle.  The Greek army was greatly outnumbered, but due to their position, the numbers did not matter as much (Cartwright). The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in the mountain pass of Thermopylae next to the ocean in northern Greece (Cartwright). The location of the battle was wisely chosen by the Greeks, but it also hurt them in a way. The pathway was so narrow that only a few soldiers could have fought in it, and it was almost impossible to put more soldiers in the thick of the battle (Frye). Other than that, the location and the choice for defense was very intelligent. 

In addition, the most significant people in this fierce battle were King Leonidas and Xerxes 1. Xerxes 1 was the man who started the war upon the Greeks. He wanted to avenge his father and to end the rebellion in Greece (Huot). He was called Xerxes the Great for his reputation of conquering cities and expanding the Persian empire (Huot). Leonidas was the king of Sparta; he led the armies of Greece into victory. He sadly died in battle, protecting the path from the Persians (Cartwright). His bravery was always remembered to this day. These men were the most important in the battle of Thermopylae. 

What took place during this battle was truly amazing, it all happened in three days. On the first day, the Persian infantry could not clear the mountain pass due to the superiority of the armor and men of the Greeks (Stewart 80). Xerxes called in his famous elite force of Immortals, when fought in close-quarter fighting. They did not succeed, however, the Greeks regained confidence about their chances in battle (Huot).  On the second day, the same happened; however, one Greek soldier provided the Persians with information about the secret passageway where an army could get in and out of the pass of Thermopylae. This gave an Persians the advantage again (Cartwright). They stormed through the path and conquered the Greeks temporarily.  The last day consisted of Leonidas rallying up an army to stand against the Persians, hoping to delay the Persians so that they could get help from other cities (Cartwright). They were destroyed by the Persians, and Leonidas died in battle. This made the Greeks very mad, and they fought their hardest to get Leonida's body back (Stewart 67). In the end, the Persians won, and the Greeks went back home.  This battle was very important to future Greece and our world today. 

The battle became such a turning point because of the Spartans' role in it became legendary amongst the Greeks (Cartwright).  However, "the very fact remained that the method was currently clear for Xerxes to march on into earth Balkan country" (Cartwright). The Greeks, though, were far away from finished, and despite many countries currently turning over to the Persians and Athens itself being ravaged, "a Greek army diode by Leonidas' brother Kleombrotos began to create a defensive wall close to urban center" (Cartwright).  As stated in Ancient History Encyclopedia: "Xerxes came home to his palace at the composer and left the talented general Mardonius responsible of the invasion once a series of political negotiations it became clear that the Persians would not gain triumph through diplomacy and therefore the 2 armies met at pitched battle in August 479 BCE" (Cartwright).  This battle led the Greeks to win the war against the Persians. 

This battle hugely influenced the world. Our world would have been a lot different if the Persians would have won the war and not just the battle. (Stewart 99).  The Greek victory led to the spread of many cultures and religions like Christianity and the Jewish religion that led our western world to be like it is today (Stewart 100). As said in 7 tipping points that saved the world: "Such were the stakes in the battle of Persians over Greece. The development of freedom and self-government hung in the balance." Next to the spread of cultures and religions, the discovery and development of art, science, and astronomy were due to Greece, and if the Persians won the battle, none of that would have been discovered (Stewart 100). As stated before, the battle of Thermopylae impacted our world and the way we live our lives today.

The fact remains that this influential battle was one of the most memorable in Greek history.  Leonidas' bravery and Xerxes' want of revenge were truly the best part of this battle. The intelligence of the placement and the tactics is what made it an interesting fight. All of the world's government and way of living were at stake in that famous battle. All of humanity should be truly glad that the Greeks won the war, it would have changed everything. The battle of Thermopylae truly changed the world.