The Greek Art of War

Paper Summary:

This paper presents an examination of the military strategy employed by the Greek and Persian armies during Xerxes' invasion of Greece in the 4th century BC. Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' is used as the basis for analysis and critique of the strategies employed by both sides. The paper discusses two major battles during the invasion- Thermopylae and Plataea.

From the Paper:

"More than two thousand years ago, a Chinese strategist known as Sun Tzu wrote one of the enduring classics of military theory. Most likely written during a period of Chinese history referred to as the 'Warring States' period, Sun Tzu's The Art of War has continued to be studied by military strategists for millennia. Even today, The Art of War is required reading for Naval Officer Candidates. At nearly the same time in the fourth century B.C., the Greek city-states were facing invasion from the mighty Persian army. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks eventually triumphed by defeating their enemies at Plataea, but not before fighting one of history's greatest military stands at Thermopylae. By using Sun Tzu's classic text to analyze the battles of Thermopylae and Plataea, it is possible to gain a better understanding not only of the battles themselves, but also of the reasons why The Art of War has remained such an influential and respected text over the centuries."

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