As a politician, Themistocles was a populist, having the support of lower-class Athenians, and generally being at odds with the Athenian nobility. Elected archon in 493 BC, he convinced the polis to increase the naval power of Athens, a recurring theme in his political career.
Who convinced Athenians to build up a navy with which to fight Persia?
Themistocles
Radicals, mainly made up of poorer citizens, sided with Themistocles believing the building of a fleet would not only make Athens a great sea power, but provide them with jobs building the ships!
What was Themistocles military strategy?
The main elements of Themistocles’ strategy are summarized as follows: All Athenians would go onboard the ships to fight in the sea. The navy would be divided into two fleets. One would remain in Attica to protect Salamis, and the second would engage the enemy at Artemision.
Why did the Athenians build a large naval fleet?
The Athenian navy was relatively nonexistent until slightly before the Second Persian Invasion, and it was developed to safeguard Ancient Greece from the Persians. They had come close to being conquered by the Persians and rather than feel relief, there were those who assumed the Persians would be back to try again.
What made Themistocles a good leader?
Themistocles was the son of a middle-class Athenian father and a non-Athenian mother. Ability alone made him influential. He advocated resistance to Persia when some wanted appeasement, and he urged the development of Athens’s navy when most trusted in its army.
Who killed mardonius?
Mardonius prepared to meet them at the Plataea, despite the opposition from another Persian commander, Artabazus, who, like Artabanus, did not think that the Persian army could automatically defeat the Greeks. Mardonius was killed in the ensuing battle by the Spartans (see Battle of Plataea).
What was the weakness of the Persian military?
Weaknesses: fewer soldiers; only 31/~200 poleis helped (others were neutral or sided with persians); greek command structure wasn’t uniform (many different poleis = different commanders, who takes charge?)
Who had a stronger navy Athens or Sparta?
Sparta was leader of an alliance of independent states that included most of the major land powers of the Peloponnese and central Greece, as well as the sea power Corinth. Thus, the Athenians had the stronger navy and the Spartans the stronger army.
What was Themistocles greatest achievement?
Themistocles (c. 528–462 bc), Athenian statesman, who helped build up the Athenian fleet (see wooden walls), and defeated the Persian fleet at Salamis in 480.
