Plataea 479BC

Question 1

Plataea

Answer 1

• After Salamis Xerxes returnes to Persia
• Athens was offerred Persian gold to rebuild their city in exchange for alliance
  When Athens refused Mardonius marched against Athens
• Spartans sent force under Pausanias
• After 2nd destruction of Athens, Mardonius moved to Thebes where he could use cavalry
• 800 Athenians lead by Aristides, 45,000 Peloponesians mad up Greek contingent
• Persian forces numbered 300,000 (herodotus) more likely 35,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry commanded by Masistius
• Persians used cavalry to lure Greeks out of foothills, charged in squadrons using hit+run tactics
• Athenians use arrows/spears to repell cavalry, results in death of Massistius, Herodotus emphasises this as turning point as created huge blow to Persian morale
• Persians sustained many casualties through attempting to retrieve body
• Mardonius used cavalry to attack Greeks, poisoned their spring
• Pausanias decided Greeks would withdraw closer to Plataea
• Greek retreat appreared disorganised, encoruaged Persian pursuit
• Persian defeat, Mardonius killed

Question 2

Resons for Greek victory

Answer 2

• Better skilled soldiers, able to maintain better discipline
• Leadership of Pausanias
• Death of Massitius neutralises Persian cavalry, breaks morale
• Superior armour/protection

Question 3

Pausanias

Answer 3

• Commanded Spartans and other Peloponesian contingents
• “held together an army consisting of over 100,000 men from 24 different cities” Fine
• “finest victory in all history known to me was won by Pausanias” Herodotus