Themistocles was a naval strategist and politician who lived in ancient Greece. His expertise in strategy and politics as well as his preparation for combat were very important in helping the Greeks defeat the mighty Persians. Themistocles political power was key in getting ready to defend against the Persian invasion. Persia invaded Greece in 490 B.C.E. The Greeks won. Between these attacks, Themistocles gained complete political control of Athens. He was made an archon in 493 B.C.E(although the title in the case is disputed by historians and may not refer to the typically understood highest administrative position). The archon is the chief judicial position in the Greek government. As an archon, he sponsored the first public works destined to make the defensible rocky bays of Piraeus into harbours. He also helped build the port’s fortifications and made it the largest naval base in the world.(Cartwright 4,5) Ten years later, …show more content…
Themistocles used the excuse of an ongoing conflict with Aegina to push his troops forward to the silver mines of Laurion.(Cartwright 4) Also, the state-owned silver mines near Sunium were the site of a rich strike, and Themistocles persuaded the assembly, instead of “declaring and dividend” to devote the whole surplus to increasing the navy.Themistocles urged that the Athenian fleet should be doubled or tripled. Thus, he used the silver to build new war ships, expanding the Athenian fleet from seventy ships to one-hundred ships. (Burn 3,4)In addition, when the Greek navy gathered at Salamis, Themistocles persuaded the Spartans to send their navy to Cape Artemisium, to protect the narrow passage of Thermopylae. If the Spartans could hold the passage, it would force the Persians to come in to attack the Greek fleet in order to open up a way for the army.(Star 120) This larger navy helped the Greeks out maneuver the Persians and win the