The Battle of Thermopylae

Let's look at one specific battle in the Second Persian War: The Battle of Thermopylae.

The battle of Thermopylae was the first between the Persians and Greeks during the Second Persian War.  The force of the Greek city-states was very small, but they were determined to make a stand against the huge Persian army.

All of Greece was in fear, knowing that the army of the Persian king Xerxes had begun its invasion of Greece.  Already the city-states known as the Thessalians had gone over to the Persian side.  However, some Greek city-states had come together and forgotten their usual rivalries since they were determined to stop the Persian invasion.  These city-states agreed that Sparta would lead the Greek army, as Spartan's reputation in war was unmatched by any other Greek city-state.