HerodotusHerodotus

The First HistorianThe First Historian Wrote Wrote HistoriesHistories in the 5 in the 5thth century century Described the Persian Wars and many other eventsDescribed the Persian Wars and many other events

““These are the Researches of Herodotus of These are the Researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus set down to preserve the memory of the Halicarnassus set down to preserve the memory of the past, and to prevent the great and wonderful past, and to prevent the great and wonderful achievements of the Greeks and the Barbarians from achievements of the Greeks and the Barbarians from losing their glory, and in particular, to show how the two losing their glory, and in particular, to show how the two peoples came into conflict.”peoples came into conflict.”

Hoplites and Phalanx require:Hoplites and Phalanx require: Soldiers equipped with Soldiers equipped with

correct armour, shield and correct armour, shield and helmet, spear and swordhelmet, spear and sword

Had to be brave Had to be brave Intense training = perfect Intense training = perfect

formationformation

Armour includes:

Bronze breastplate

Bronze greaves

Linothorax - tunic of stiffened linen

Hoplites fighting – possibly in the gymnasium. Detail from an Attic black-figure hydria, ca. 560 BC–550 BC.

Chigi vase 650 BCE, showing hoplites in phalanx formation

Greek Greek Hoplites Hoplites

(c.650BCE)(c.650BCE)HOPLITE FORMATION: HOPLITE FORMATION: Soldiers trained to fight in lines, shoulder to Soldiers trained to fight in lines, shoulder to

shoulder, shields overlappingshoulder, shields overlapping Protected by shield of man next to himProtected by shield of man next to him All march forward together, no enemy All march forward together, no enemy

spears or arrows could get through their spears or arrows could get through their wall of shields wall of shields – hoplite formation like a “scrum” in rugbyhoplite formation like a “scrum” in rugby

The Trireme The Trireme

In use since about 550 BCE. Associated with many maritime civilizations including: Athenian, Phoenician, Corinthian, Egyptian and Roman

Recent Archaeological FindRecent Archaeological Find

Discovered and excavated in 1993 in by underwater archaeologists off the coast of Marseilles (P. Pomey

(dir.), M. Rival, R. Roman)

Persian WarsPersian Wars

Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)

Greece (led by Greece (led by Athens) vs PersiaAthens) vs Persia

Athens appealed Athens appealed to Sparta for helpto Sparta for help

Origin of the Origin of the ‘marathon’‘marathon’

One of first One of first recorded instances recorded instances in which phalanx in which phalanx usedused

Winner: GreeceWinner: Greece

Thermopylae (480 BCE) Thermopylae (480 BCE) Persian King XerxesPersian King Xerxes 300 Spartans led by king 300 Spartans led by king

Leonidas defended Leonidas defended narrow pass to protect narrow pass to protect Greek navyGreek navy

OracleOracle BetrayalBetrayal ““Go, tell at Sparta, thou Go, tell at Sparta, thou

who pass by, that here who pass by, that here obedient to her word, we obedient to her word, we lie”lie”

Winner = PersiaWinner = Persia

Salamis and Plataea (479 Salamis and Plataea (479 BCE) BCE)

Greeks (Athens, Greeks (Athens, Sparta, Corinth) vs. Sparta, Corinth) vs. Persia (Xerxes… Persia (Xerxes… again)again)

Salamis: Naval battle Salamis: Naval battle (Greek fleet of triremes (Greek fleet of triremes (fast ships) = winner (fast ships) = winner Greece Greece

Plataea: land battle Plataea: land battle where Persia defeated where Persia defeated by the Spartan phalanxby the Spartan phalanx