300 - A Primer
Mar. 3rd, 2007 01:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
litheraBecause... I'm awake. And... inspired to write this, for whatever reason.
And first off - http://spartafuntimes.ytmnd.com/
These wars were also called The Medic Wars or simply The Persian Wars. They started around 500 BC and lasted to 448 BC. (Remember BC or BCE goes backwards, counting up to zero.) What we know about the wars comes mostly from Herodotus. Herodotous is known as "the father of history", generally since he was the first person to write these things down as we know them. He was known for exaggeration from time to time - mainly through making it sound as though he was actually some where when he could not have been.
So. This whole thing started when the Persians extended their power into the lands controlled by the Lydians (including Ionian Greek city-states). If you're wondering where these Ionain Greek city states are, think Troy (Western Turkey) and the islands off of the coast and you won't be too far off. Naxos was a land of high taxes. Their rulers were called Tyrants. In 500 BC, the Naxians in protest against the wealthy citizens expelled the some of the nobles and aristocrats and established a democratic government. In 499, those aristocratic exiles, enlisted help in attempting to take the island back. The Persians were that help, having been told that the island would fall easily. It didn't. It cost them a lot of money and embarassment.
What this did, however, is inspire the Ionains to revolt against Persian control. It worked for the Naxians, why not for them too? There are a few cities burned and sacked, a few battles, culminating in the Persians winning extremely decicively - conquering Macedon and Thrace (the areas moving around from Turkey toward Greece).
After this, Darius the First of Persia wanted revenge and so, attacked Naxos, caught the people there off guard. The Naxians ran into the mountains. The Persians burnt the city to the ground and took all of those they could find as slaves. Then, the Persians went on to attack Eritria and Athens - the two places that helped in the first situation with Naxos. The Persians were successful with Eretria but were stopped at Marathon before they could get to Athens. (Marathon itself can take books and books but I'm trying to keep this reasonable...)
Ten years later Darius' son, Xerxes, decides that he's going to take Greece. He's been preparing for years for this effort. The first battle of this new conflict is the one that 300 is about - Thermopylae. There are a lot of people who disagree about the actual numbers of people on both sides. Originally on the Greek side, there were anywhere from 4000 - 11,200 men. The Persians are numbered anywhere from 500,000 to over 5 million. (Herodotus again there. A little high.) It is more likely that there were about 1,700,000 people - over half of them being support troops for the army.
Anyway... The Persians arrived at Thermopylae and sent scouts up, finding the Spartans (and the 700 Thespians [from Thespiae]) there combing their hair out, oiling up and engaging in calethenics. Xerxes thought this was funny until one of the Greeks in his employ told him that this was how the Spartans got ready for battle. These were the bravest men in Greece - they were preparing to defend the pass. Xerxes sent emisaries and asked the Spartans to surrender their arms. Leonidas' response has been used by many in the years since then - "Come and take them."
On the second day of battle, a Malian named Ephialtes (the name meaning "nightmare" and is synonymous with "traitor" in Greek), informed Xerxes of a path around Thermopylae. Leonidas had stationed 1,000 Phocian volunteers to guard the path. They were totally unprepared for the Persians. It was over pretty quickly.
Loenidas learned of what had happened and called a counsel. Some argued for a withdrawl and others argued to stay. Most of the Greeks chose to leave the battle. It is debated as to whether Leonidas allowed them to save face by ordering them to leave or not but they all left - except those 700 Thespians, who pledged to stay with the Spartans. The ending was brutal and involved many arrows. The Thespians surrendered but the Spartans were all killed.
The Athenians eventually got to get into the thick of things, though Athens was razed before things started to turn the Greek's way - starting at the Battle of Salamis. I have a good book about that battle and the end of the war if anyone wants to read it. There were a number of noteworthy things about that, including the first recorded female Admiral.
And... It is way late now. And I should go sleep. But. There. Stuff and info.
And first off - http://spartafuntimes.ytmnd.com/
These wars were also called The Medic Wars or simply The Persian Wars. They started around 500 BC and lasted to 448 BC. (Remember BC or BCE goes backwards, counting up to zero.) What we know about the wars comes mostly from Herodotus. Herodotous is known as "the father of history", generally since he was the first person to write these things down as we know them. He was known for exaggeration from time to time - mainly through making it sound as though he was actually some where when he could not have been.
So. This whole thing started when the Persians extended their power into the lands controlled by the Lydians (including Ionian Greek city-states). If you're wondering where these Ionain Greek city states are, think Troy (Western Turkey) and the islands off of the coast and you won't be too far off. Naxos was a land of high taxes. Their rulers were called Tyrants. In 500 BC, the Naxians in protest against the wealthy citizens expelled the some of the nobles and aristocrats and established a democratic government. In 499, those aristocratic exiles, enlisted help in attempting to take the island back. The Persians were that help, having been told that the island would fall easily. It didn't. It cost them a lot of money and embarassment.
What this did, however, is inspire the Ionains to revolt against Persian control. It worked for the Naxians, why not for them too? There are a few cities burned and sacked, a few battles, culminating in the Persians winning extremely decicively - conquering Macedon and Thrace (the areas moving around from Turkey toward Greece).
After this, Darius the First of Persia wanted revenge and so, attacked Naxos, caught the people there off guard. The Naxians ran into the mountains. The Persians burnt the city to the ground and took all of those they could find as slaves. Then, the Persians went on to attack Eritria and Athens - the two places that helped in the first situation with Naxos. The Persians were successful with Eretria but were stopped at Marathon before they could get to Athens. (Marathon itself can take books and books but I'm trying to keep this reasonable...)
Ten years later Darius' son, Xerxes, decides that he's going to take Greece. He's been preparing for years for this effort. The first battle of this new conflict is the one that 300 is about - Thermopylae. There are a lot of people who disagree about the actual numbers of people on both sides. Originally on the Greek side, there were anywhere from 4000 - 11,200 men. The Persians are numbered anywhere from 500,000 to over 5 million. (Herodotus again there. A little high.) It is more likely that there were about 1,700,000 people - over half of them being support troops for the army.
Anyway... The Persians arrived at Thermopylae and sent scouts up, finding the Spartans (and the 700 Thespians [from Thespiae]) there combing their hair out, oiling up and engaging in calethenics. Xerxes thought this was funny until one of the Greeks in his employ told him that this was how the Spartans got ready for battle. These were the bravest men in Greece - they were preparing to defend the pass. Xerxes sent emisaries and asked the Spartans to surrender their arms. Leonidas' response has been used by many in the years since then - "Come and take them."
On the second day of battle, a Malian named Ephialtes (the name meaning "nightmare" and is synonymous with "traitor" in Greek), informed Xerxes of a path around Thermopylae. Leonidas had stationed 1,000 Phocian volunteers to guard the path. They were totally unprepared for the Persians. It was over pretty quickly.
Loenidas learned of what had happened and called a counsel. Some argued for a withdrawl and others argued to stay. Most of the Greeks chose to leave the battle. It is debated as to whether Leonidas allowed them to save face by ordering them to leave or not but they all left - except those 700 Thespians, who pledged to stay with the Spartans. The ending was brutal and involved many arrows. The Thespians surrendered but the Spartans were all killed.
The Athenians eventually got to get into the thick of things, though Athens was razed before things started to turn the Greek's way - starting at the Battle of Salamis. I have a good book about that battle and the end of the war if anyone wants to read it. There were a number of noteworthy things about that, including the first recorded female Admiral.
And... It is way late now. And I should go sleep. But. There. Stuff and info.
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no subject
Date: 2007-03-03 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-03 09:48 pm (UTC)http://thisisspartaaa.ytmnd.com/
http://nessparta.ytmnd.com/
http://lolsparta.ytmnd.com/
http://fatalitiesthreehundred.ytmnd.com/
Truly. It is.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-04 11:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-04 11:17 pm (UTC)Lemme see if I can cut and dry it:
- The Persians extend their power.
- The people of Naxos revolt, Persians try to take the city and fail. I costs lots of money.
- Persians want revenge, go on rampage, try to take Athens - are stopped at Marathon.
- 10 years later, the Persians try again.
- Spartans and Thespians stop them, for awhile, at Thermopylae.
- Eventually, the Athenians defeat the Persians on the ocean and after a series of protracted battles, the Greeks kick the Persians out.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-05 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-05 06:54 am (UTC)