The Strategic Impact of the Battle of Salamis

Illustration of ancient Greek warships (triremes) with multiple rows of oars in battle formation.

Why the Battle of Salamis Still Matters How can a single naval battle change the course of world history? The Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE offers secondary social studies teachers a powerful case study in strategic thinking, leadership, geography, and the impact of naval power. Fought during the Greco-Persian Wars, Salamis demonstrates how Athenian... Continue Reading →

February 24, 2026 0

The Battle of Thermopylae: Lessons in Leadership and Strategy

A reconstructed image showing a Greek hoplite (circa 500 BCE) and a Scythian soldier from the Achaemenid Persian army (circa 480 BCE) in typical armor and pose.

Background: The Persian Invasion of Greece Photograph of the Thermopylae pass near the Phocian Wall, illustrating how the ancient coastline lay closer to the mountains and shaped the narrow battlefield used by the Greeks against the Persians.Source: Fkerasar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 How did 300 Spartans and their allies hold off a massive Persian army... Continue Reading →

February 17, 2026 0

Lessons from the Persian Invasion of Greece

Detail from an Attic red‑figure ceramic kylix (c. 460 BCE) showing a Greek hoplite killing a fallen Persian soldier.

The Persian Invasion of Marathon What lessons can secondary students learn from an underdog victory in ancient history? The Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE provides a vivid example. During the First Greco-Persian War, the Persian Empire under King Darius I landed on the plain of Marathon just outside Athens, aiming to punish the city for supporting... Continue Reading →

February 10, 2026 0