The Battle of Thermopylae
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The Battle of Thermopylae was a battle between the massive amounts of Persian Troops against the few thousand Greek/Spartan/Allies. Although Persia may have been larger in numbers, Greece was "larger" in skill. There were a few naval battles during this time also, although these are lesser known, they are still important. The first naval engagements were under Themistocles, an Athenian naval admiral. These occurred during the same days as Thermopylae, and saved the Spartans from being flanked early in the battle. Though Themistocles was defeated at the Battle of Artemisium, he had a few successes against the Persian fleet before his defeat. The other important naval engagement was once again lead by Themistocles at the Battle of Salamis. This decisive Greek victory crippled Persian morale, and later the war was ended by the Battle of Plataea. The Persian's led by Xerxes, whose father, Darius I of Persia, also tried to capture Greece but was stopped and defeated at Athens.
Choke Point
Greece saw that there was a way to stop Persia by killing them off at a "choke point". This "choke point" was Thermopylae. Greece also sent a naval fleet to Artemision (a naval choke point) where Xerxe's army was being supplied.