DIRECTIONS: Read the informational passage below. Then complete the activity that follows.
Be sure to write in complete sentences using reason and evidence from the text.
Leonidas (c. 530-480 B.C.) was a king of the city-state of Sparta from about 490 B.C. until his death at the Battle of Thermopylae against the Persian army in 480 B.C. Although Leonidas lost the battle, his death at Thermopylae was seen as a heroic sacrifice because he sent most of his army away when he realized that the Persians had outmaneuvered him. Three hundred of his fellow Spartans stayed with him to fight and die.
As king, Leonidas was a military leader as well as a political one. Like all male Spartan citizens, Leonidas had been trained mentally and physically since childhood in preparation to become a hoplite warrior. Hoplites were armed with a round shield, spear and iron short sword. In battle, they used a formation called a phalanx, in which rows of hoplites stood directly next to each other so that their shields overlapped with one another. During a frontal attack, this wall of shields provided significant protection to the warriors behind it. If the phalanx broke or if the enemy attacked from the side or the rear, however, the formation became vulnerable. It was this fatal weakness to the otherwise formidable phalanx formation that proved to be Leonidas’ undoing against an invading Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C.
Under Xerxes I, the Persian army moved south through Greece on the eastern coast, accompanied by the Persian navy moving parallel to the shore. To reach its destination at Attica, the region controlled by the city-state of Athens, the Persians needed to go through the coastal pass of Thermopylae (or the “Hot Gates,” so known because of nearby sulfur springs). In the late summer of 480 B.C., Leonidas led an army of 6,000 to 7,000 Greeks from many city-states, including 300 Spartans, in an attempt to prevent the Persians from passing through Thermopylae.
Leonidas established his army at Thermopylae, expecting that the narrow pass would funnel the Persian army toward his own force. For two days, the Greeks withstood the determined attacks of their far more numerous enemy. Leonidas’ plan worked well at first, but he did not know that there was a route over the mountains to the west of Thermopylae that would allow the enemy to bypass his fortified position along the coast. A local Greek told Xerxes about this other route and led the Persian army across it, enabling them to surround the Greeks. Much of the Greek force retreated rather than face the Persian army. An army of Spartans, Thespians and Thebans remained to fight the Persians. Leonidas and the 300 Spartans with him were all killed, along with most of their remaining allies. The Persians found and beheaded Leonidas’ corpse–an act that was considered to be a grave insult.
Leonidas’ sacrifice, along with that of his Spartan hoplites, did not prevent the Persians from moving down the Greek coast into Boeotia. In September 480 B.C., however, the Athenian navy defeated the Persians at the Battle of Salamis, after which the Persians returned home. Nonetheless, Leonidas’ action demonstrated Sparta’s willingness to sacrifice itself for the protection of the Greek region.
Questions:
1. How did a single local Greek help Xerxes I win the Battle of Thermopylae? Develop your thoughts for why this local Greek would help the Persians.
2. Compare and contrast what it means to be a citizen of Sparta to that of a citizen in the United States’ society.
How would you like us to help you with this assignment?
To answer Question 1, we need to identify how a single local Greek helped Xerxes I win the Battle of Thermopylae and consider their motivation for assisting the Persians. In the passage, it is mentioned that a local Greek informed Xerxes about an alternative route over the mountains to the west of Thermopylae. This route allowed the Persian army to bypass the fortified position of Leonidas and his forces along the coast, which ultimately led to the Greeks being surrounded and defeated.
The passage does not explicitly state why this local Greek would help the Persians, but we can make some reasonable assumptions based on historical context and human motivations. One possibility is that this Greek individual had personal grievances or disputes with Leonidas or the Spartans. Sparta was known for its strict societal structure and military dominance, which could have led to discontent among some individuals within their city-state. It is also possible that this local Greek may have been coerced or bribed by the Persians into providing them with crucial information.
To answer Question 2, we need to compare and contrast what it means to be a citizen of Sparta with that of a citizen in the United States' society. The passage provides some information about the role and training of a Spartan citizen, so we can use that as a basis for comparison.
In Sparta, all male citizens, including Leonidas, underwent rigorous physical and mental training from childhood to become hoplite warriors. This training emphasized discipline, obedience, and military skills. Spartan citizens were expected to prioritize loyalty to the state and to be willing to sacrifice their lives for their city-state. Additionally, the passage mentions that Leonidas served as both a military and political leader, suggesting that Spartan citizens had a role in governing their society.
In contrast, being a citizen in the United States' society is characterized by democratic principles and individual freedoms. U.S. citizens have the right to vote and participate in the political process, which allows them to have a say in shaping their society. The United States values individual rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. While there is no mandatory military training for all citizens in the United States, individuals have the choice to join the military if they wish to serve their country.
Overall, being a citizen of Sparta meant living in a highly disciplined and militaristic society, where loyalty to the state was paramount. In contrast, being a citizen in the United States' society is characterized by democratic principles, individual freedoms, and the ability to participate in the political process.