Thermopylae and Salamis, the Battles that Changed History

It's 10 years after the battle of Marathon. Xerxes, King of Kings, prepares an unimaginable force to teach the Greeks a lesson once and for all. The stakes of history hinge on two incredibly important battles: the battle of Thermopylae and the battle of Salamis. The culmination of the second Greco Persian war.
Western civilisation is founded on Greeks values of democracy and freedom (or so we think). If Xerxes brakes through and conquers Greece, our entire existence would have changed (or would it?).
Thanks to Professore Alessandro Barbero for his kind cooperation, you can find his audiobook here: bit.ly/3wG8Nvo
==========
Music:
"To the Beat of the Drum"
"Live by the Sword"
"Die by the Sword"
"Restricted Area"
Thank you to the amazing Mario Putti for additional custom made tracks and moral support throughout the video 🌼
==========
Social:
Illustrations by nooox: / n.ooo.x
Candywise on Instagram: / candywise_world
==========
Based on a book by: Alessandro Barbero
Adapted, directed, animated and edited by: Fabio Albertelli
Illustrated by: Federica Campigotto
Narrated by: Rob Walker
Script edited by: Iris H. Mauricio
Produced by: John Sapling
==========
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Persia Mobilises
2:33 Greece Prepares
4:58 The Two Navies
8:17 Battle of Thermopylae
10:43 Retreat to Salamis
13:42 Themistocles' Plan
16:59 Battle of Salamis
19:52 Epilogue
This project took a very long time to make, about three months worth of work. Thank you to everyone involved for helping me and supporting my ideas.
If you want to support the channel I don't ask for money, a like and subscribe will do just fine. If you really believe in my channel then share it around, that will be really appreciated.
I read all the comments, so if you want to tell me anything, critiques or appreciations I will read them all, I love to engage with the people that watch my videos.
#thermopylae #salamis #barbero

[@TylerDurden-cy5cs]

Extremely enjoyable video amazing work . 2 things to mention that I think are interesting. Firstly Spartans stayed not only because someone had to but mainly, because their laws didn’t allow them to leave from the battlefield to “run” away acknowledging defeat. Secondly yes Themistocles went to Persia because athenians tried to kill him when Spartans spread a rumour that he was traitor. When he arrived there the Persian king instead of killing him like he supposed to do, he gave him the bounty that he had on his head and made him governor in return for information that would essentially help him to conquer Greece. Themistocles told him the things that I want to tell you are extremely important and shouldn’t anyone else expect you knowing them so he asked for few years to learn the language so he could express them to the king directly. After few years when the time came and the king asked him for his knowledge, Themistocles couldn’t betrayed athens and he decided to kill himself.

[@Candywise]

Thank you for this Tyler, great analysis

[@TylerDurden-cy5cs]

I should say thanks mate great video thanks for the time making it 🙂

[@Candywise]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to share the valuable further information 😄

[@vassallidibarbero]

Amazing content

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much! 🤩🙏

[@tobiromano]

Have been a fan of the page for a while now and of Barbero for even longer. It is amazing to see you are collaborating with such an amazing historian! 😍 Complimenti anche a lei professore! Le auguro tanti altri progetti come questi!

[@Cacaborea]

Yep

[@lmaolol9973]

What a beautiful project!

[@Candywise]

Hope you enjoyed the first installment in this new series "Battles that changed history"! It took me an enormous amount of effort to make and every feedback is widely appreciated! If this is something you want to see more of subscribe and leave a like, that would help us a lot! 🍬👇

[@normalguyhere9158]

I absolutely loved it and as a historian it makes me happy to see someone represent the other side you have a new sub 😁

[@GoSlash27]

A suggestion for "Battles that changed history": The battle off Samar.

[@georgezestanakis6788]

Loving the commitment to the ancient greek pottery style. Makes it very unique in contrast with the rest in youtube. Kudos!

[@Candywise]

Thank you! 🙏

[@cjthewhovian]

I don't know what I was expecting but daaaaaaamn The quality just gets better and better!

[@Candywise]

thank you Cj!

[@johnsapling2103]

Watching this video is like walking in a museum with figures engraved in stone telling a story of ancient battles and heroes. You managed to create a magic atmosphere of dread and hope, struggle and victory. Amazing job..!! ❤️

[@Candywise]

lovely comment, thank you

[@Inderastein]

Coming from The Armchair Historian

[@Candywise]

good to have you here!

[@marioputti7634]

So proud 😭❤️

[@Candywise]

❤️❤️❤️

[@snifey7694]

This is a gem of educational content

[@Candywise]

Thank you! 🙏 I'm glad you liked it

[@Googledeservestodie]

This reminds me so much of a TedEd video, have you ever thought about being a guest artist there? Gets your name out and introduces you to a lot of knowledgeable folks at Ted

[@Candywise]

Wow I'm honoured you think that! I actually looked into it, but I still don't have a website to show them and they require one. Then I thought of waiting until I became a better animator before applying, so now I'm grinding 😄

[@rexfury485]

Man, the animation style is gorgeous, and effort on the research side is just - wow!

[@MrBallsworth69]

This is some of the highest quality and most enjoyable history content I’ve seen, you definitely earned a sub

[@Candywise]

Thank you! The next video like this is in production right now but it will take time to finish, in the meantime I'm going to upload smaller videos, hope you will enjoy those ones too :D

[@paola6612]

Perfect story, perfect graphics, perfect music ... 😘

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@flyallen8165]

Won’t lie, saw this in my feed without looking at anything before clicking and legitimately thought it was a TED-Ed talk at the start before I checked, cooked high quality and very comprehensible

[@Candywise]

I'm really honoured! Those are some incredibly good animations! I don't think I'm quite there yet, but I really appreciate it 😄

[@darkmemes953]

@@Candywise You are genuinely good, if you doing the animation all by yourself, then I have big respect for you.

[@johnzoulias6]

Wow, I didn't realize how few subscribers you had until I went and subbed myself. You deserve way more and I am confident you will receive recognition worthy of such videos

[@Candywise]

Thank you John! Welcome to the channel 😄

[@zsmarine0831]

I came here by the orders of General Lil Griff, I stayed for the badass content! Keep up the vids dude

[@Candywise]

Hahaha thanks mate

[@EeebNaab121]

the quality is really good despite the amount of your following... i hope that one day the algorithm finds you

[@Candywise]

Thank you very much!

[@munhozmib]

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen in KZbin. I can't thank you enough for bringing us these masterpieces! AMAZING!

[@Candywise]

Thank you for the kind words and unwavering support!! 🙏🙏

[@damjanborovic3847]

This is amazing, I can’t believe that you are such a small channel, with video like this you will be huge soon 👏👏

[@Candywise]

Thank you! Welcome aboard 😄

[@marco472]

Superb video..!!

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@frederickdevries12]

Could you perhaps make a serie about the most significant battles in European history? Especially with this edit format it looks fantastic!!!

[@Candywise]

I'm planning to do just that! I'm glad you liked it! For the next one I'm undecided to do Marathon or a battle of the roman empire

[@bebnisbanan2098]

The narration is great!

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@andrepiccirilli3498]

That's definetly the kind of content I like to consume. Instant subscribe, hope to watch more of this. The animation is tasteful, the soundtrack add emotion to the narrative, you presented us with you reference and proposed dialogue between history and present. State of art history channel in my opinion

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@Candywise]

I must say, the more I read your comment the more I'm flattered by your words. People like you that appreciate my craft with such passion are exactly the reason why I do these videos

[@lesdodoclips3915]

Excellent video!

[@Candywise]

Thank you 😄

[@marcferreira3729]

That was spectacular in every way, you've got yourself another sub

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much!

[@Cacaborea]

This is great and well made

[@Candywise]

Thanks man

[@Cacaborea]

@@Candywise you're welcome

[@carsonfarmer1074]

Can't believe you only have 673 subs...well now 674 😎👍. Awesome video.

[@Candywise]

Thank you very much for subscribing and for the kind words 😄

[@mitchmacferren458]

Great work, I was surprised to see how few subs you have for the quality put forth. Hopefully big things are in store for this channel. Ill be watching.

[@Candywise]

Thank you! It's just something I love doing 😄

[@DT-lj1wr]

Loved the unique style, absolutely fantastic work. I would love to see more content told in this way.

[@Candywise]

Thanks you so much, more is in production!

[@speckle2592]

Amazing video! Wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw the length, but you had me constantly on the edge of my seat, eager for more!

[@Candywise]

Thank you Susan! This video was more of a challenge for myself, to see if I was able to pull such a big project off. I'm very glad you liked it! Normal videos are coming 😄

[@aconcernedcitizen6056]

Hidden gem of a channel 👍

[@Candywise]

lovely comment, I'm happy you think that :)

[@gluttonousmanu2725]

Boi o Boi loved the storytelling , audio and animation ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much! 😍

[@eduardoizquierdo309]

Had a history test about this yesterday bruh

[@Candywise]

Ahhh that's a shame we were 1 day too late!

[@detectivehobson7465]

This is beautiful

[@Candywise]

Thank you Hobson 😄

[@modelnanpresident]

Great video, i love the animation and how intense the video is.

[@Candywise]

Thank you man! Really appreciate ot

[@patrice-or3xx]

You deserve way more views

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@chri8173]

MY brother you have created something great :)

[@Candywise]

Thank you MY brother

[@fritzvenezia9338]

Wow! The graphics is very great! We're honored along with other subscribers to be here with you so early! We'll support your growing channel, keep up!! 💯

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much Fritz, I'm honoured to have you on board so early!

[@GoSlash27]

I came here on the recommendation of TAH. I was definitely not disappointed. I'm subbing immediately! :D

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@sotirismakr3380]

Great video!👍 Greetings from Greece

[@Hommededarwin]

Great video! You have please the algorithm, you were in my recommanded

[@Candywise]

Finally the algorithm God was pleased by my donations 😄

[@typicalmovie7329]

This animation and story telling is amazing!

[@Candywise]

Wow! I'm honoured, thank you 😄

[@V935_yt]

What a video! What a quality! I first didn't believed that you made this and thought its from some big TV station. Fantastic and stylish animations, great Skript and storyteller. Instant abo!

[@Candywise]

Hehehe thank you that's an honour!

[@chrisriverata1917]

Absolutely beautiful, and informative. The animation is so sleek and I'm excited to see what's next!

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much Chris, more to come!

[@HNTRKLLR]

Where can I find the music used? It's fantastic and goes so well with your beautiful animations!

[@Candywise]

I'm glad you like it! The music is from a website called Audiomachine, they have amazing songs and you can buy the copyright of the songs you like. Every song name is in description!

[@mr.myrtle2923]

This was awesome!

[@Candywise]

You are awesome! Thank you 😄

[@mr.myrtle2923]

This is still awesome 😁

[@ssseeeaaannn]

The best video you've mad so far

[@Candywise]

Thank you Sean!

[@dumbcow7722GD]

Please cover these battles: - Battle of Valmy - Battle of Warsaw (1920) Both of which are extremely undercovered (say for a 1M+ views video covering Warsaw).

[@Candywise]

excellent tips! i will look into those

[@dumbcow7722GD]

@@Candywise Thanks a lot! As a enthusiastic reader of the French Revolutionary to Napoleonic eras, it means a lot that *the* battle that made these eras exist in the first place will be covered. As for Warsaw, I've always regarded Polish history as one of the greatest. This particular battle prevented the Soviet goal of spreading the communist revolution to Western Europe and as such, has major ramifications into the 20th-century and contemporary history.

[@Candywise]

it sounds incredibly interesting, I would love to cover the Battle of Valmy. These videos take very long to do and I have a bunch already started so I can't guarantee I will be able to make one soon! But i will definitely look into it

[@dumbcow7722GD]

@@Candywise Do not rush! These history videos are w very well-done and production-wise are some of the best I've ever seen, I understand these take a long time to do!

[@warhawk4494]

This is awesome

[@Candywise]

Thanks 😄

[@user-oq4jh2ij4j]

As a Greek who learn all that in School i can say only one thing. Great Job!

[@normalguyhere9158]

This was amazing if all your content quality is this good than you are going to high places

[@Candywise]

Thank you man, I hope so, I put a lot of love into each video I make and I'm always very happy to hear people enjoying what I do

[@jamesiscool6761]

Here before your channel blows up :)

[@Candywise]

Welcome aboard!

[@WhaleOfAStory]

Great video! Subscribed to see what great things come in the future!

[@Candywise]

Thank you Ben!

[@Slayerofmothers]

Wow. Amazing stuff. Subscribed

[@Candywise]

Thank you! Welcome aboard 😄

[@voltaireisamadlad7007]

These animations are awesome!

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@will9501]

Fantastic video! The art style is fantastic, and I greatly appreciate the transition between the detailed portraits and the mass formations in the urn margins. Not to minimize the great narrator and historical writing, but the art sets this apart and makes it a fantastic contribution to a nearly over-analyzed subject.

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much, comments like these are exactly the reason why I love doing these videos

[@will9501]

@@Candywise I just finished the Blackbeard video as well. It's also refreshing to see someone engage in the older style of explicitly drawing a lesson from their overall analysis rather than presenting their interpretation of facts and nothing else. Keep up the great work!

[@Candywise]

@@will9501 Thank you Will, means a lot to me, I always try to extract a meaning from the stories I tell. Just a heads up, my first four videos on this channel are done in a very different style than what I do today. I'm planning to remaster all of them eventually starting from the barefoot marathon video (which i think it's the best one). So if you don't want to spoil the stories and save them for the remastered version I advise to avoid watching them now, this goes for just the first 4 videos i made. If you want to see the two different styles and how they will evolve then go for it! :)

[@will9501]

@@Candywise appreciate the heads up, and I look forward to the remasters!

[@mikeoxmaul5062]

This video was sick, I really enjoyed it! It was neat to hear all the small details that you don’t pick up when hearing about it in school. I subbed. I hope to see some more content like this in the future

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much! I'm definitely making more

[@anglowarrior7970]

Instantly subscribed very interesting videos u make bro :)

[@Candywise]

Thank you! 😄

[@anglowarrior7970]

@@Candywise my pleasure

[@aaronmarchant8121]

Super informational and very entertaining. Awesome work !

[@raymonddsouza2778]

love the animation it goes with the team of the story

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@pinklinecabs3967]

Just discoverd your channel and found it amazing.Excellent work man👍🏻.

[@samiai8905]

9:07- 9:37 This was such a cool way to show the battle

[@Candywise]

thank you 🙏

[@user-iq9er4yq8k]

This video goes pretty deep about this subject. It also has really great animation, and it makes me feel like I am watching a documentary. Great work, you earned a subscription from me.

[@mihailojovicevic5576]

Amazing! Good luck!

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@RyanLawless]

Well done. Another great retelling of this historical event. Great take on it.

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@RyanLawless]

Honestly, it's challenging to bring something new to this story. You did a really good job of making it interesting enough to watch again with your production values and overall execution.

[@Candywise]

I'm really flattered, thank you, words like this keep me wanting to post more

[@ancienthistorytube1921]

Beautiful illustration. Loved the "us and them" bit in the end as well. Congrats.

[@gluttonousmanu2725]

Amazing Content Another great History channel to subscribe Would like similar topics to be explored

[@Candywise]

Welcome aboard and thank you! more are coming!

[@berenger1002]

Really good video, excellent animations.

[@Candywise]

Thank you!

[@freshminion6496]

Thanks for the vid really help full and lots of awesome information perhaps do more videos like these

[@margaretkairu7418]

awesome

[@gluttonousmanu2725]

Just one thing plz increase the narrator audio and refine it too Rest of video is amazing

[@Candywise]

Yeah I know the mixing could have been better, glad you like it tho!

[@KKKUNT]

999th subscriber hecc yeah

[@Candywise]

welcome man!

[@KKKUNT]

@@Candywise Omg thank you! the video was awesome

[@johnvonshepard9373]

Amazing Animation.

[@canadiandoughnut8605]

What’s the music? This stuff just makes me want to fight something. The video is so good and want to see more. Specifically the one where leonidious dies

[@Candywise]

Thank you man, I've answered you in my community post, let me know if you find it!

[@kilenbilodeau2597]

I would love to know where you got this amazing music!

[@Candywise]

it's a website called "Audiomachine"

[@kilenbilodeau2597]

@@Candywise Thanks so much! I love your videos, new subscriber addded!

[@canadiandoughnut8605]

Epic, just epic

[@odysseus3793]

History of Antiquity with quality on-par if not better than that of Arm-Chair Historian. Nothing could make me happier.

[@Candywise]

Haha thank you!

[@travisbickle3835]

Jesus Christ, this is beautiful.

[@Candywise]

Thank you Travis!

[@travisbickle3835]

You are an amazing artist and you have gained a sub :)

[@Raven-ne9cg]

So bad ass

[@Candywise]

Thank you Raven

[@sayedhusson3876]

Hi, is there any email I could use to get in touch with you? I'm learning some things about creating my own history channel, animating, research, scripting etc and this is excellent. If you could get in touch with me I would be so grateful.

[@Candywise]

Hey yeah sure it's [e-mail]

[@sayedhusson3876]

@@Candywise Thanks a lot

[@freakrx2349]

If anything, the Battle of Teutoberg is more pivotal. It set limits as to how far the Roman Empire could expand and laid the foundations for the decline and collapse of the Roman Empire.

[@Candywise]

A Roman battle is in the pipeline! I was thinking of doing the Battle of Adrianople instead, as it's also considered to be the battle that ended the Roman empire, but I will definitely look into Teutoberg

[@ProfessionalPedo]

Why Stop Playing Far cry?

[@Candywise]

Aah i see you're a man of culture as well

[@Eleftherios323]

You make some mistakes i suppose the poppular belief is to blame or the mistakes of the author of this book🤔🤨.Herodotos inform us specificaly that some other hellenes remain with Leonidas 1000 Thespians and 200 Thebans that they surrender to the persians during the last stand because their polis was with the persian empire and became slaves.And the pass behind the lines of the hellenes was guarded by 1000 Phoceans they were suprised and retreated from the pass because of the sudden attack of the persians(some historians argue they are the reason the battle of thermopylae was lost)and send a messenger to inform the main army.The Oracle of delphi and many other cities and hellenes were allies with the persians such us thebes,thessaly,kingdom of macedonia and boeotia.Thank you for your work.

[@Candywise]

Thank you so much for this, really good comment! I suppose I did mention the ~6700 Greeks that fought together with the Spartans, but when it came to the last stand I did only mention the Spartans that stayed behind and died next to their king as none of them surrendered. As for the 700 Thespians that also stayed behindI didn't find any sources that specifically stated that none retreated, so I included them with the hoplites which retreated. Some might have stayed for sure, thank you tho, excellent comments

[@basreiziger6875]

But where is the lie?

[@Candywise]

Good question! Basically I present the battle as a decisive pivot in history, as if Themistocles, Leonidas and the Greeks defended western civilization from a terrible occupation from the East. That's an easy story of good versus evil that we're used to hear. However if we look closely things were much more complex than good Vs evil. Themistocles ended up as a Persian governor and we understand that he wasn't actually defending western civilization from the East, he was just pursuing personal power. He even called his daughter after the continent that the Greek myths regard as evil. So with this piece of information we understand that the threat from the East wasn't even an evil threat. It wasn't a matter of good Vs evil, and if the Persians managed to conquer Greece probably nothing would've changed in our world. I looked at this point through the lens of today's world, where we're so used to stories of good Vs evil, I'd like to give people a new perspective and realise that there is more to it than that.

[@basreiziger6875]

@@Candywise But... then you should hsve argued how Persian conquest wouldnt have changed the West... the mere fact that individuals changed sides doesnt explain anything... this is just one of those things... You cannot say: battles... therefore no conquest... a guy goes working for persians... therefore not merely good vs evil... therefore persian conquest wouldnt change the west, because they arent baddies... You could have argued how Persians are Indo-European, the by far most influential group in European history and how therefore Persians and some of the Greeks are as different in background as we are used to think. Or how Greek thinking is inspired by zoroastrianism, which in again Indo-European. I really like how you made the video btw

[@Candywise]

You're right actually, I don't explore it enough and only in the conclusion, let me change the title

[@cardboardbox6690]

sorry cant like, 696 likes is perfect

[@Candywise]

thank you anyway Gandhi, the number is so perfect it must be preserved

[@cornpop1363]

I thought the Greeks were able to build a new navy because they had recently discovered a new silver mine and Themistocles convinced everyone to give up their share of the silver and build a navy instead.

[@Diog3nes]

Good but inaccurate video. Themistocles lost the elections so he was expelled to Argos, there under the pressure from the Spartans had to flee to M.Asia. And many more details that can change the whole picture.

[@Candywise]

Yep I am aware of that, I simplified it with a one sentence, he did flee from Athens, he did die as a Persian governor and he did have a daughter called Asia. For timing reasons I couldn't expand on every detail, that would have taken another 20 minutes, I had to cut away many details, the important stuff is there, but glad you liked it though!

[@TylerDurden-cy5cs]

Isnt inaccurate at all. Of course there are some details that didn’t mention in the video but you can’t say inaccurate is too powerful to use for such a good video

[@Diog3nes]

@@TylerDurden-cy5cs The video was great as were the animations... Presenting Themistocles as a traitor tho that changes the whole history as well as saying the Spartans had to stay to cover the retreat as they didn't had another option.

[@TylerDurden-cy5cs]

@@Diog3nes the video has only these 2 misunderstandings man. You can’t find something else that is wrong about it. In 20 minutes present the wars against Persian empire very well, what else do you want to be satisfied. Themistocles yes wasn’t a traitor but Spartans were, when took money from Persians to fight Athens. Athenians were traitors when they took money to fight Sparta after they lost the peloponnesian war. Later on when Alexander conquered the world when he was almost on the right edge of Asia he was finding letters from athens asking money to fight Macedonia back in Greece.

[@Diog3nes]

@@TylerDurden-cy5cs Brother, that is a civil war, politic differences between the city states and rivalry who will dominate and lead the Greek world... The Spartans didn't fight side by side with the Persians to take over Athens. Everytime that there was a common barbarian enemy they were united, then if someone was joining the enemy, then it was a traitor. That never happened, except as individual cases of mercenaries. When it comes to Macedonian dynasties the rest of the Greek city states didn't want to join the rule of one kind, they wanted to have independent policies that's why Alexander burned down Thebes, to give the example that they dont have a choice. Of course until the end they weren't satisfied with that.

[@sofimoraiti3674]

In the and only 1000 Greeks were in thermopiles.The others had to go so they didn't fight.They were 1000. Spartans had 300 and thespians had 700.You don't know history right? And i know all of this cause i am from Greece.

[@Candywise]

The Greek army at the Thermopylae was about 7000 men (it's always hard to put an exact number in these battles but most historians agree on that number). You can find further reading here: www.history.com/.amp/topics/ancient-history/leonidas

[@sofimoraiti3674]

@@Candywise the others exept i am Greek are true.

[@Candywise]

Pardon?

[@sofimoraiti3674]

@@Candywise What you didn't understand?

[@Candywise]

According to Herodotus, the Greeks were between 5200 and 6100, according to Diodorus they were between 7400 and 7700. Of course the ancient historians couldn't be 100% precise with numbers, that's why the number could be between 5000 men and 11000 men, however most historians agree it was around 7000, that's why I worded it the way I did in the video.

[@theveryproudmoroccan2834]

Invicta's video about the persian wars and the spartan myth are full of misinformation. It is an insult to the spartans and us Hellenes. His arguments don't make sense.