Tides of History
The Greco-Persian Wars, Part 2: Xerxes and the Invasion of Greece
Oct 12, 2023
Xerxes and his massive army descend on Greece, leading to the intense Battle of Thermopylae. The impact of the Greco-Persian Wars on Greek unity and biased narratives is explored. The complexities of alliances and divisions among Greek city-states are highlighted. Xerxes' cultural and historical approach to the campaign, and the size and composition of the Persian army and navy are discussed. The aftermath of the Battle of Thermopylae and the fall of Athens are also covered.
40:05
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Quick takeaways
- The Persian Wars played a crucial role in shaping Greek identity and the concept of 'Western civilization' through the creation of an us-versus-them mentality.
- The primary source for the Persian Wars, Herodotus, should be approached critically due to his biases and reliance on storytelling techniques.
Deep dives
The Persian Wars and Greek Identity
The podcast episode explores the Persian Wars and their impact on shaping a collective Greek identity. The disunited Greek city-states came together to resist the invasion of the powerful Persian Empire. These wars played a fundamental role in creating a sense of Greekness, as the Greeks defined themselves in opposition to the Persians. The Greek literary tradition about the wars, heavily influenced by Herodotus, emphasized this us-versus-them mentality, which would later contribute to the concept of 'Western civilization'.
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