Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World

Strength in effort if not in numbers. A coalition based not on politics or political co-operation but of an alliance for mutual defense – sworn in by oaths in the name of witnessing gods. The importance here being that this pact is religious and a breach would be sacrilegious to include a sectarian transgression. More than 31 Greek cities formed this alliance – the leaders of this forthcoming battle of the time would be the Lacedaemonians or better known collectively as the Spartans. Leonidas and Xerxes; both leaders being respected by their lands and abilities. Leonidas is the one however that gets recalled to history more (seemingly) than Xerxes. Leonidas is not remembered for the “win” of the battle; but, for the “loss” of the same and the bravery to which he and the "300" fought to the death. The famous “300” (though the correct number is 298) as two survived; one commits suicide (Pantites) and the other (Aristodamus) is shamed for a year that leads up to the Battle of Plataea. As Aristodamus ends up fighting with a suicidal fury (his black mark had been removed before this battle began) he was looking to avenge his Spartan failure in Thermopylae and ends up being cut down in Plataea. He is awarded no special honors for this effort as he fought beyond the constraints of the disciplined manner that Spartans were known for at the time.This book is highly academic in my opinion. It was a pleasure to read as it makes other books of other wars and battles by other authors that much easier to get through. My favorite phrase in this book is attributed to Socrates “the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”. Professor Cartledge certainly has a passion for this topic within these pages, the review of current day photos of various artifacts now in several museums around the globe was nothing less than outstanding – this photos in my opinion brought the story to life for a very real time frame to History and Military History specifically. Where would we be today without the recorded history of Herodotus? His accounts were instrumental in this book and for the history of the Spartan “300”. We learn of many cultural norms of the BCE era to which this book covers; however, we also see a link to us here now through the ages. This is the first account and record of an Alliance ever established and something the Romans and all nations going forward would employ.Simply a terrific wonderful book that every person who is interested History and Battles and Wars should pick up and read.

Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World, by Paul CartledgeThis book is difficult to review, it reminded me of a hose running uphill, you turn on the water and wait for it too flow. This book does begin to flow, just in a different direction then I expectedThe author seems to brush aside the battle of Thermopylae with an historically prefaced glance, with the actual battle beginning well into the books 5th chapterThe author instead chooses to outline the events surrounding the battle more throughly, none in detail, but part of the overall journeyIf you are looking for the subtle influences and major forces leading up to the battle of Thermopylae and its relevance in an historical sense, this works wellI did enjoy the authors perspectives on Herodotus, Thucydides, Pericles etc, and their time period agendas, all great stuffIt does become a tad lengthy, but he fills it in with small details of Spartan life that are worth the journeyThe book begins with a prologue and includes a few general but extraordinarily resourceful maps, along with illustrations and some well appreciated pictures of time period artifacts showing the Spartan battle dress, weapons, gear etc.The three appendixes are somewhat long, but seem to work well if you are looking for an abundant amount of background research information, with limited relevance to the story of Thermopylae itself. I learned to really appreciate them, although it is fairly deep and more complex, they are worthwhile to readThe book also included a nice index, bibliography, and glossaryI had previously read The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, by Paul Rahe (outstanding), along with a couple of others on Sparta. This book does add to that experience in a more retrospective way of looking at history, which I learned to enjoyOverall happy to have read it. Actually, now that I sit and review it, I think I want to read it again, my thanks to the author

Compulsive reading. A complex and vivid account of one of history’s greatest moments.

Nach dem großartigen und überaus empfehlenswerten Buch des Autors über Alexander d. Gr. ("The hunt for a new past") habe ich mir dieses Buch gekauft. Im Gegensatz zu Alexander, wo über eine Zeitspanne von bewegten 12 Jahren berichtet wird, steht hier (im wesentlichen) nur ein recht kleiner Zeitraum zur Beschreibung offen, wodurch das Buch meiner Meinung nach im Ganzen etwas zu dick ausfiel. Ich wünsche mir nun ein Buch von Cartledge zB. über Perikles.

The battle between the Greeks and Persians, is one of the greatest in military history. Cartledge does a good job laying out the details. However, the entire book itself, tends to be a little dull. I believe there are better picks regarding Thermopylae.

Das Buch ist stringent geschrieben und verfügt über eine hohe Informationsdichte. Es ist sehr angenehm zu lesen und wird durch ironische Anmerkungen aufgelockert. Sehr gute Einführung in Athen, Sparta, Persien und die Bedeutung der Perserkriege 480/79 mit Fokus auf die Thermopylen.

I've always found Paul Cartledge to be a remarkably clear and articulate speaker and writer.He knows his subject backwards and yet can still portray it with enthusiasm and in an accessible way for both the Classical scholar and the general reader.This is a great discussion, not just on Thermopylae itself but on Spartan society itself, and the wider world within which it existed.