Ancient History
To what extent was Themistocles responsible for the Greek victory in the Persian wars in 480-479BC?
Themistocles was a prominent figure within the Greek battles against the Persians during the periods of 480-479 BC. Themistocles had a major influence in the battles at Artemisium, Salamis, Plataea and Mycale which lead to the Greek victory in the war. Through his unique contributions to the battles, Themistocles had greatly impacted on these victories some majorly others to a small extent, achieved through his unique tactics and strategies. Part of Themistocles strategies was the ‘Naval Policy’, this included: Fortifying the Piraeus peninsula, also he was able to persuade the Athenians to pay for the building of a fleet, using the silver from the mines at Laurium. From these mines Themistocles was able to expand the Greek navy by 200 triremes; this would aid Themistocles in achieving his goal in the naval battles at Artemisium and Salamis. The land battles included; Plataea and Mycale, his contributions led to the conquest of the Greeks overall. As a result from Themistocles naval policy it had significant outcomes to each battle in a certain way.
Themistocles’s naval policy was the foundation for future superiority for the Athenians, for these reasons the Athenians depended on the sea to be a trading power. As Herodotus stats: “Athens’ future lay on the sea as a trading power”. As a result, this lead Themistocles to plan the improvement of the harbours in Athens for the trireme building programs, which will enable the Greeks to have a larger Navy consisting of triremes. During 493BC Themistocles decided to fortify the Piraeus peninsula with a strong wall, this was to secure and overlook the 3 harbours from this location. “In 483-482BC Themistocles persuaded the Athenian to pay for the building of a fleet, using the silver from the mines at Laurium”. This meant that the income generated was put directly on the constructions and development of triremes for the
Themistocles was a prominent figure within the Greek battles against the Persians during the periods of 480-479 BC. Themistocles had a major influence in the battles at Artemisium, Salamis, Plataea and Mycale which lead to the Greek victory in the war. Through his unique contributions to the battles, Themistocles had greatly impacted on these victories some majorly others to a small extent, achieved through his unique tactics and strategies. Part of Themistocles strategies was the ‘Naval Policy’, this included: Fortifying the Piraeus peninsula, also he was able to persuade the Athenians to pay for the building of a fleet, using the silver from the mines at Laurium. From these mines Themistocles was able to expand the Greek navy by 200 triremes; this would aid Themistocles in achieving his goal in the naval battles at Artemisium and Salamis. The land battles included; Plataea and Mycale, his contributions led to the conquest of the Greeks overall. As a result from Themistocles naval policy it had significant outcomes to each battle in a certain way.
Themistocles’s naval policy was the foundation for future superiority for the Athenians, for these reasons the Athenians depended on the sea to be a trading power. As Herodotus stats: “Athens’ future lay on the sea as a trading power”. As a result, this lead Themistocles to plan the improvement of the harbours in Athens for the trireme building programs, which will enable the Greeks to have a larger Navy consisting of triremes. During 493BC Themistocles decided to fortify the Piraeus peninsula with a strong wall, this was to secure and overlook the 3 harbours from this location. “In 483-482BC Themistocles persuaded the Athenian to pay for the building of a fleet, using the silver from the mines at Laurium”. This meant that the income generated was put directly on the constructions and development of triremes for the