Brat McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness podcast.

For knowing the death, which was about to come upon them by reason of those who were going

round the mountain, they displayed upon the barbarians all the strength which they had

to its greatest extent, disregarding danger and acting as if possessed by a spirit of recklessness.

So wrote the Greek historian Herodotus, our main source as to what happened at the battle

of the Mopoli, who was clearly impressed by the bravery the Spartans showed in making

a standing against the multitudes of invading Persians.

Even down in the present time, this legendary battle continues to capture imagination, and

my guest today will go beyond pop culture depictions of it to describe what really led

up to the Mopoli, how the epic clash that happened in a narrow coastal past agrees unfolded

and why it matters.

His name is Paul Cartledge, he's an ancient historian, professor of Greek culture, and

the author several books on Sparta including the Mopoli, the battle that changed the world.

At the start of the show, Paul describes Sparta's martial training system, which allowed

it to become a dominant power in Greece, the Sparta's relationship with other city states

and how they ended up partnering with their sometimes enemy Athens and repelling a second

Persian invasion.

We discuss who made up the famous 300 Spartan warriors who would defend the Grecian past

to death, how they armed and paired for combat, and what happened over three days of battle.

We enter conversation with the importance of the Spartans courageous stand at the Mopoli,

not only the outcome of the Greco-Persian Wars, but the course of world history.

To watch the shows over, check out our show notes at aam.is slash their Mopoli.

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