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Greco-Persian War: The Effects Of Ancient Greek Warfare

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The Effects of Ancient Greek Warfare
In 480 B.C., the Greco-Persian wars were raging. Persia’s obvious wealth did not stop the Greeks from fighting for their own freedom. The Persians learned the the hard way that the Greeks, though small in number, were powerful. The Ancient Greeks paved the way for Western Civilization because of the battles they won, their strategic plans and organization, and their purpose for fighting.
The Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. was a pivotal moment in history for not only the Greeks in the Greco-Persian War, but also for all of Western Civilization. Themistocles, the Greek commander, developed a plan to halt the spreading Persian attacks. He lured the large ships of the Persian fleet into a narrow strait where …show more content…

They had many different types of soldiers that they used for different purposes. For example, the hoplites were the front line and they wore protective, heavy armor. Hoplites could drive into enemy lines while the archers, causing massive amounts of damage, protected them. In addition to the hoplites, javelin throwers, archers, and slingers also helped with attacks and retreats. When useful, the military leaders would use a cavalry. Following the example of the Greeks, the U.S. troops today are protected by aerial support to engage or retreat in battle. They are also supported by a variety of differently trained soldiers. In Ancient Greece, they also started to structure their army with different command units. They began to organize their troops by electing generals for specific amounts of time to lead the armies. The state paid and trained the troops. The Greek state had a variety of intensely trained troops at their disposal and kept a reserve in their general population. The Metropolitan Museum of Art records, “Hoplites…were characteristically equipped with about seventy pounds of armor, most of which was made of bronze” (Metmuseum). Similarly, leaders in today’s Western Civilization have organized their military forces into groups such as the Army, the Air Force, the Marines, and the …show more content…

Around 500 B.C. the Greeks grew tired of being ruled by the Persians. They decided to build up their army, and fight for their liberty. Mark Cartwright, a Greek Philosophy historian, explains, “Whilst there were lengthy periods of peace and many examples of friendly alliances, the powerful motives of territorial expansion, war booty, revenge, honour, and the defence of liberty ensured that…the Greeks were regularly engaged in warfare both at home and abroad” (Cartwright). In other words, although the Greeks had multiple motives for war, they also fought mainly in defense of liberty. Similarly, in the 1700’s, the thirteen original colonies of the United States grew tired of being ruled by Great Britain, which led to the American Revolutionary War. Following the example of the Greeks, the citizens of the U.S. fought for expansion of their territory and freedom to rule themselves. McDougal Little reports, “The United States has fought wars to liberate people from oppression, gain land, and as a retaliation for attack” (McDougal). Just as the ancient Greeks, the United States has again followed their example in defending liberty while expanding their own territory. The ancient Greeks and modern Western civilization are not so different, but without the Greeks, Western civilization would be completely

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