Reenacting the Persian War Battle of Thermopylae helps World History I students understand how geography affects warfare. During the battle, Persians were trying to get through a narrow passage between the sea and steep mountains. In the reenactment, the Persians were trying to attack the Spartans, but the Spartans – fewer in number – had the advantage with the gym on one side and a hill on the other. The Spartans successfully defended their territory because of the geography, until a spy told the Persians about how to get around the hill. Just as in history, this spy changed the battle’s outcome. It became clear in debriefing the reenactment that students recognized the importance of geography and how unfair battles can be – either because of geography or spies.

Below is what the students on both sides wrote after the battle as a summary of what they felt happened.

Persians: “The Persians won and Sparta cheated. They did not understand war tactics. We were prepared and understood. We are smarter. We won because we worked together and had a plan.”

Sparta: “Persia cheated. When they were hit, they did not go down. Sparta deserved to win. The spy deserves to be annihilated. Sparta rules.”