The Battle Of Thermopylae During Western Civilization History

The battle of Thermopylae is an important event in western civilization history. This battle established the name of the Spartans and how ruthless and disciplined they were. The battle of Thermopylae also helped end the wrath of Xerxes and the Persians before they could conquer all of the city-states that they wanted to. The battle also revolutionized the technique of using the land to people’s advantage in war. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in Northern Greece, located 150 kilometers North of Athens. It was an excellent choice for defense since it had mountains running down into the sea, the only remaining land was a narrow marshy area along the coast. Thermopylae was a very strategic location. It commands the pass from Thessaly through Lokris and Boeotia. Having secured the pass could block any invaders and even make them turn back, though all three occasions, the defensive use of the pass failed. The Athenians took position at Thermopylae in 352 BC, making Philip II decide not to invade. Then, in 323 BC during the Lamian War, the general Leosthenes blocked the Macedonian Antipater by stationing troops at Thermopylae. Thermopylae was not the only route south from Thessaly; it was merely the fastest and easiest route. The Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC was between the Spartans and the Persians. King Leonidas of Sparta was declared to lead his men to march to the pass of Thermopylae to guard the pass from the Greek city-states. Leonidas wentShow MoreRelatedThe Persian Wars Were Significant For World History1441 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the main components that defined the ancient world is war. During the era of expansion and conquest, wars were waged across lands near and far. By means of defense, revolts arose at this time of numerous battles as well as the formation of alliances. As a whole, war is a struggle for power. For instance, two great ancient civilizations, Greece and Persia, fought in a series of conflicts known as the Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus, the historian who first wrote about the Persian Wars, once saidRead MoreThe Battle of Thermopylae from Herodotus’ the Histories Essay1146 Words   |  5 PagesWestern Civilization February 8, 2009 The Battle of Thermopylae From Herodotus’ The Histories The Battle of Thermopylae, which Herodotus recorded in his writing The Histories, was one of the most arduous and notable battles of western history. Herodotus was an extremely significant historian who lived during the 5th century B.C. In this primary source writing, he portrays how Xerxes was superstitious and tyrannical, how the battleRead MoreEssay about The Mystery of the Battle of Thermopylae2087 Words   |  9 PagesThe Battle of Thermopylae was fought between alliances of Greek city states, which were led by King Leonidas of Sparta, against the Persian Empire led by Xerxes over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece. The battle took place simultaneously with the naval battle at Artemisium, in August or September 480 BC, at the pass of Thermopylae (The Hot Gates). The event was later recorded by Herodotus, who interviewed the surviving soldiers and Greeks. When it comes toRead MoreThe Defense Of The Pass Failed1330 Words   |  6 Pages Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in Northern Greece, located 150 kilometers North of Athens. It was an excellent choice for defense since it had mountains running down into the sea, the only remaining land was a narrow marshy area along the coast. Thermopylae was a very strategic location. It commands the pass from Thessaly through Lokris and Boeotia. Having secured the pass could block any invaders and even make them turn back, though all three occasions, the defense of the passRead MoreHistorical Bias Of The Persian Wars1332 Words   |  6 PagesThe history is told in great part by Herodotus, a Greek historian, considered to write historical bias in regards to Greek Persian history. Herodotus was said to investigate the Persian war, going through different lands and collecting personal inquiries, myths, legends and accounts of the Persian Wars. He was praised and honored for his recollection of the events, which were both factual and fictional. Herodotus wante d to pass down a history of why these two great people came into battle fromRead MoreXerxes Invasion1853 Words   |  8 Pagesdecisions. His tactics that he performed during the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of Salamis also portray Xerxes’ defeat of the invasion of Greece. King Xerxes I was the son of King Darius the Great, arguably â€Å"the greatest monarch in all of the ancient world†1. Unlike his more successful father Darius, Xerxes’ actions did not strengthen the Persian Empire, but led to its eventual undoing.2 Xerxes was manipulated and cajoled to go forth with the battles. A great influence upon him was MardoniusRead MoreThe Persian War Was A Series Of Wars1386 Words   |  6 Pagesreinstall him as ruler of Athens as their puppet (Martin 128). Since the Persian soldiers outnumbered the citizens-militia of Athens, the Athenians asked for help from the Spartans and other Greek city states for help, which lead to the Battle of Marathon. 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They represent something entirely new, a new kind of activity, essentially (at least as far as Thucydides is concerned) the same kind of activity as that which historian of today pursues, but unlike that practiced by any earlier peoples.† Herodotus, the writerRead MoreCultural Context Of The Temple Of Athena1745 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity 194 BE Cultural Context Temple Of Hera in the history Discuss the influence of culture to a classic building Liujingya 2016-4-21 6714415 â€Æ' Contents ï  ¬ Introduction ï  ¬ Main body 1. Establishment of the temple 2. Related politics and art 3. Culture development ï  ¬ Conclusion Cultural influence of the temple of Hera It is very clear that ancient buildings can be a part of the evidence to show what happed in the history. As a part of ancient culture, architectural languages haveRead MoreAncient History Practice Test Essay2381 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿Western World I Test One Answer the following as TRUE or FALSE 1. 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Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience - 933 Words

â€Å"That government is best which governs least,† this is a quote from Henry David Thoreau from his well-known book called Civil Disobedience (Baym, Levine ,2012). His famous book was written after he was jailed for a night for refusing to pay a tax. However, the following day his relatives paid the tax without his knowledge and this inspired his book Civil Disobedience. Though Henry David Thoreau is also known for being a poet, practical philosopher and his two-year project at Walden pond near Concord, Massachusetts (â€Å"Henry David Thoreau,† 2014). His project consisted of him leaving behind the influence of society and living a minimalist lifestyle for two years. In his book, Walden, or Life in the Woods, in the economy portion he illustrates the benefits of living a simplified lifestyle. Thoreau also describes his project as an act of self-reliance and practicing his faith as a Transcendentalist. As well as, Thoreau believes in minimizing one’s needs to f our necessities which is food, shelter, clothing and fuel, all four of these are readily found in nature. Furthermore, Thoreau argues his view on the benefits of a simplified lifestyle, self-reliance, and his necessities can be found in nature. Additionally, Thoreau asserts that excess possessions oppresses people spiritually with worry and requires excess labor to purchase a consumer good. As the society continues to indulge in buying consumer goods people feel as though they need to own things, this need forces them toShow MoreRelatedCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau975 Words   |  4 Pages Henry David Thoreau was a very influential writer in the 1800s and still is today. Thoreau was one of America’s â€Å"greats† when it came to early American literature. Henry David Thoreau wrote one of the most influential essays entitled Civil Disobedience. This essay was Thoreau’s political statement, it outlined his views on non violent resistance. Civil Disobe dience was written during the Mexican War. The Mexican War was a conflict between Mexico and America that was caused by a dispute over theRead MoreCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau888 Words   |  4 Pageswhether or not Civil Disobedience is an appropriate weapon in a democracy, one must understand what Civil Disobedience is and how it was developed. The definition of civil disobedience is simple: the refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something. The man who developed the undertones of Civil Disobedience was Henry David Thoreau. Several key figures looked to his famous paper, The Duty of Civil Disobedience, for inspiration. 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This idea had a few articles written about it such as â€Å"Civil Disobedience† by Henry David Thoreau which in summary states that if you don’t agree with the society’s opinion, you should form your own and fight for it. Another writing about it is â€Å"Self Reliance† by Ralph Waldo Emerson which also basically states that you should follow your heart and not conform toRead MoreCivil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau1260 Words   |  6 PagesCivil Disobedience was written by Henry David Thoreau. The Letter From A Birmingham Jail was written by Martin Luther King Jr. They both had similarities and differences. There were injustices that were done wrong to each of them by others in the society in which they both lived. The injustices and civil disobedience they incurred should never happen to anyone. Henry David Thoreau spoke in an emotional tone in his essay â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† The emotional part of his essay of Civil DisobedienceRead MoreCivil Disobedience, By Henry David Thoreau1650 Words   |  7 Pagesweakness? In his 1849 essay â€Å"Civil Disobedience,† American writer Henry David Thoreau explained he had refused to pay his poll tax to the U.S. government for six years because he opposed the U.S. engaged in war with Mexico. This kind of â€Å"civil disobedience,† Thoreau (1849) said, is crucial because â€Å"a minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then†. In fact, he said, â€Å"It costs me less in every sense to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it wouldRead MoreCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau1384 Words   |  6 Pagesis also known as civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is the most efficient form of protest in a society. In all societies both modern day and past, there has been some sort of government. 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Assassination of a Dictator †Justifiable Free Essays

Throughout history, there have been many dictators who have ruled with an iron fist. Julius Ceasar of Rome, Joseph Stalin of Russia, Nicolea Ceausescu or Romania, and Adolf Hitler of Germany were – to name a few – famous dictators. Dictators rule countries with absolute power, taking away the rights and choices of citizens. We will write a custom essay sample on Assassination of a Dictator – Justifiable? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Most would argue that the assassination of a dictator is a good, justifiable thing to do, and I find myself agreeing. Yet, despite dictators’ unrighteous actions, there are some who still argue against getting rid of oppressive leaders. If a dictator is killed, many deaths could be prevented. The killing would be for the greater good. Who wouldn’t go back in time to kill Hitler? Thousands of lives would be spared. One death, in comparison, is trivial. These dictators do not just pose a threat internally – they are a threat to everyone. A dictator’s assassination could even prevent a war. Although most people assosciate assassinations with outside interference, this often isn’t the case. During World War Two, Hitler’s own generals plotted the Fuhrer’s downfall. These attempts were very close to being successful, but for a spy within the conspiracy. Even Joseph Stalin, the â€Å"Man of Steel†, was not immune to traitors within his Polit Bureau. Julius Ceasar himself was killed by his assosciates and supposed best friend after declaring himself dictator for life. When these people seize power, they are determined to hold on to it through fair means or foul. Their assassination may be the only way to change a country from dictatorship to democracy, particularly if an internal police force under the leader’s rule has been upholding his or her will and preventing internal opposition. A popular arguement against the assassination of a dictator is that there is an alternative to being them to justice. The leaders can be put on trial, and be held responsible for their crimes. The International Criminal Court provides a permanent means to go about this, and acts as a deterent against anyone taking complete control. Slobodan Milosevic was able to be put on trial for his deeds, and Saddam Hussein faced justice in Iraq. However, this alternative method would allow the dictator to be in power for longer, and they would still have some power. Not all trials are fair, and the dictator may escape justice, and continue as they were. The attempt could also make them look untouchable, or even heroic. I think that, if the situation calls for it, dictators should be assassinated. Although some pro-life, and anti-death penalty protestors would disagree with this form of justice, there will always be disagreements about this contraversial topic. Although assassination is illegal, not much that dictators do is legal either. Killing a dictator is for the greater good. Any utilitarian would agree that, by taking out the root, the problem can be easily solved. By removing the driving force, the whole system of the dictator would colapse, dying with them. Dictators oppress citizens, and take away basic rights, such as the right to be heard. In order to give people back their rights, the dictators must be removed. One person is a small price to pay for this, particularly if the dictator is bloody. Take Joseph Stalin, for example. He personally signed the deaths of nine thousand people, and killed many others indirectly. By taking away one life, so many thousands could be saved. Even the people close to dictators want them gone – who wouldn’t? The populace of countries taken over by dictators need a signal to find the courage and daring to campaign for change. What better way to signal than to take out the bad guy? The thoughts against assassination, I feel, are simple remnants of the â€Å"rules of war†, from long ago. In a war, it is okay to kill perfectly innocent citizens. Yet, it is immoral to kill the leader? This, to me, makes no sense. From saltmines to glasnost, from stalags to democracy, from apartite to Nelson Mandella walking free, from fascism to capitalism, peace and progress can be achieved by the removal of dictatorships. -January 2011 How to cite Assassination of a Dictator – Justifiable?, Papers