How significant were naval battles in the course of the Persian War, 480-479 BC?

Question 1

Intro: Naval battles

Answer 1

The Persian Wars of 480-479 BC underscored the instrumental role of naval battles in shaping the course of the war from the battle of Artemisium 480 BC to Mycale 479 BC.

It was the decisive battle on sea -> crippled naval strengths + moral

An event that saw a Greek shift from a defensive war, to one of conquest and liberation of Ionians in Asia minor.

Question 2

BP1 naval battles (Artemenisin)

Answer 2

Destruction of the Persian navy off the coast of Macedonia by seasonal storm halted the 492 BC invasion -> set precedent for the significance of the navy.

Statement at Artisminum -> prevented the Greeks from being flanked at Thermopylae -> Persians used a crescent formation which in narrow straits is ineffective -> changing autumn winds therefore forced a final battle at Salamis -> Persian damage was repairable, no significant impact.

Greek ‘hit and run’ tactics on Persian fleet anchored off Aphete and storm of the Magnesian coast saw the deduction of four hundred ship according to Herodtous

Prevented Persian amanda in concentrating their fleet and amphibious landing of the Pelopenses to be cancelled. -> however, Xexeus did raze Athens due to the statement, so technically achieved goals according to professor Jones.

Question 2

BP2 naval battles (Salamis + Mycale)

Answer 2

Battle of Artemisium was a delaying tactic, Salamis was the decisive battle -> decision to fight at Salamis was rushed by Xerxes (high stakes battle) “Cook considers “without a [Persian] fleet the Peloponnese could not be conquered.”

Fought in the bay of Eleusis (narrow) -> Greek rushed the Persians creating grid lock and chaos -> “Aeschylus described it vividly, as the “seas were hidden, carpeted in wrecks.”-> forced the Persians navy to retreat to Samos (Asia minor) + only small contingent under general Mardonius (not significant threat)

Demoralising threat on Persians -> beached their ships at Mylae 479 BC -> Herotodus states the Greeks burnt the ships, ending threat of Persian imperialism -> demonstrated Greeks superior tactics, geography and leadership.

Question 3

BP3 naval battles (Plataea + Thermopylae)

Answer 3

Both relied on a strategy of combined arms -> Greek use of Thermoplaye to delay the Persian advance evidence in Troezen inscription -> allowed further naval reinforcement for battle of Salamis.

Leonidas sacrifice at Thermopylae confirmed the second delphic oracle -> Athens to rely upon their ‘wooden walls’

Plataea 497BC, the Persian may of won the war given their superior numbers and cavalry, easily enough to conquer the Peloponnese. Herodotus admits, “Pausanias…won the most splendid victory which history records.”-> highlights role of Pausanias in victory -> removed Persians from mainland and then liberation of Ionians in Asia minor.