The Persian Wars: How Greece Stood Alone

The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History · Sep 20, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While earlier episodes explored the internal politics of Athens and the philosophical roots of Greek thought, this episode shifts focus to the existential threat that forged the Hellenic identity. In 480 BCE, King Xerxes I launched the second Persian invasion of Greece with an army estimated at over two hundred thousand men. This wasn't just a border skirmish; it was an attempt by the Achaemenid Empire to subjugate the entire Mediterranean world. We trace the strategic decisions behind the Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and his small force held the pass for three days, buying…