Fictional, reflective review on academic experiences and other skills Essay

Fictional, reflective review on academic experiences and other skills acquired through internships - Essay Example While the business has grown to have a presence in eighteen nations in Asia and Europe, it is still primarily a family owned and operated entity. I am excited to work with a network of uncles and cousins in this venture, but I know that I have to complete my learning pathway so that I can make a real, meaningful contribution to the company. One of the modules that I am learning a lot from deals with a systems approach to solving problems. Many of the situations that I will face in my management career will require me to solve complex problems. These problems may be intertwined with the everyday operations of our hotels and hostels. Understanding a systems approach to solving problems will help me to untangle the many skeins that create knotty problems in a global business operation. Working through modules that involve problem solving has shown me that I have some strengths and weaknesses in the area of employability skills. I know that I need to develop strong problem solving skills in order to successfully reach the end of my learning pathway. This is obvious to me based on discussions with family members that currently are working as managers in the hospitality business. Customer service and price are the two most important aspects of our business because it is after all based on hospitality. In order to accomplish this basic mission of our business model, solving problems that keep customers from being happy with our services and problems that cause costs to rise must be solved of the business will fail. Finding solutions to problems in innovative ways is a strength I have developed as a result of work I have produced in these modules. The ability to think beyond the normal confines of business is something I have learned how to do. The key to this learning and skill acquisition centers on the willingness to be self-motivated and to take initiative when decisions need to be made. From working with my classmates, I have learned that most people shrink away f rom putting the work into solving knotty problems. It is much easier to hope that the situation will work itself out or to try to devise a quick fix that never really gets to the root of the problem. As my chosen pathway is Global Business Management, I realize that I will be working with an international clientele as well as an international set of employees. At first thought this was very exciting for me. I grew-up hearing about how operations were doing in Bangladesh compared to how things were going in Indonesia or Cyprus. As a young person, my dreams of traveling to these places and working inspired me to want to take on a role of responsibility in the family business. What I have learned over the course of my pathway is that I have a lot to learn about how other cultures work. I have always thought of myself as a broadminded and accepting individual. I have learned that many of my cultural traditions and beliefs have been challenged since I have been studying here. I have had to rethink some of the beliefs that I have always held dear. The journey along my pathway ahs shown me that I tend to be an ethnocentric thinker and that I need to overcome my tendency to think in black and white terms. Sometimes there is more than one positive solution when solving a problem given the cultural subtext. Accepting this has not always been easy for me, but I am learning and improving. Section #2 One powerful learning experience I had while working on a module involved

People, Organizations and Society Essay Example for Free

People, Organizations and Society Essay Most people are individually different from one another it varies from behavior, character, attitude, lifestyles and importantly the social status. We sometimes ask ourselves why are there many people who have bad traits and good traits and sometimes having diverse mood swings and frame of mind. Different theories coming from different psychiatrist and psychologist are the concrete foundation of behavioral factors. In order for us to understand the behavior of every human being, it is better to describe the two types of conditioning which involves learning process and behavior, the classical conditioning and operant conditioning. We will discuss the similarities and dissimilarities of these two types of conditioning and further relates these two to many dimensional examples of an individual’s behavior and also that of an animal pattern of behavior. Defining Classical and Operant Conditioning In order to explore the clarity of classical and operant conditioning, it is healthier to examine and define the subject from which they are strongly associated and originated which is learning. Classical and operant conditioning has several similarities on learning such as the process of extinction, unprompted recovery, stimulus conclusion, biasness and superior directive condition or secondary reinforcement. Also, it is similar because they both generate basic occurrence and phenomena which is acquisition which result in the inheritance of a behavior (SocialPC). Classical and operant conditioning are similar in some ways but they do varies in a few ways and are equally dependable method to explain and educate a person or an animal in a specific situation. Learning is any comparatively lasting transformation in behavior and manners generated by an experience (MegaEssays, 2007). These two conditioning are the two types of several theories on learning. Classical conditioning is an important type of learning which was uncovered by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist who emphasized this observable fact through his experiments on the digestive patterns in dogs (Heffner, 2004). It is a connection of one occurrence or happening with another that results in a pattern of behavior (MegaEssays, 2007). A classic example of this phenomenon is the research done by Pavlov on his dog in which he discovered a dog’s drive to produce saliva while responding to a certain stimuli, in which a reaction or spontaneous effect that was unconscious and unintentional. When he rang a bell and was offered a food to the dog, the dog recognized it and associated the food with the bell. In this case, the bell is the conditioned stimulus while food was an unconditioned stimulus. In addition, classical conditioning often linked with muscles and reflexes and instincts. It is a very important component of a training program in which we can comprehend and figure out conditioned and unconditioned stimulus or reinforcement, species exact behaviors, inducing dislike stimuli, and feelings (2007). It is significant in understanding in dealing with problems relating to fear. Another finding confirmed the thought that we build up reactions to certain stimuli that are not naturally occurring, for example when we touch a hot stove, our response is to remove our hands back from the hot stove but now some people who already experienced after getting burned tend to pull their hands back even when the stove is turned off. This lead to Pavlov’s conclusion that people tend to relate or connect one particular experience which caused a person to simplify their reaction to one stimuli into an impartial stimuli in which it is matched with. In short, a stove burner is often associated with an expression in pain like ouch and then stove is equal to burner hence, a stove is also equal to an expression like ouch (Heffner, 2004). A lot of people’s behavior these days is formed by the combination of stimuli according to Heffner. Some observations and experience like the smell of a perfume or a particular scent, a certain song and things has been paired with a specific person or group like families, friends, ex-lover, loved ones, or a particular event or happening. These connections controls and influence us to a certain extent and in fact we have been conditioned classically (Heffner, 2004). On the other hand, operant conditioning is a type of learning experience which involves on how an organism functions or operates in a particular environment, learning here takes place as a consequence of behavior. This was termed used by Skinner in explaining the results of the consequences of a particular behavior on the future incidents or happenings of that behavior (MaricopaCenter, 1999). There are four types of operant conditioning: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction. In order to explain it further, an example could better explore its meaning; a cat was placed inside a box which has a single exit and entrance. The box has only one button to be pressed to open the door, the cat strived to get out from the box since freedom here is reinforced. In its effort to escape, the area of the box was set off and the door opens which leads the cat to be released from the enclosed box. But this does not end the story, the experience of the cat once placed again in the box, the cat will immediately escape since the cat will immediately recall the experience last time and will once locate again the button to push. Learning from experience is the concept from the example, the cat learned from the experience through natural results and how to achieve or acquire the reinforcing freedom (Heffner, 2004). Let’s pick a broader and relevant experience in the past, several times the Philippines were colonized by different conquerors and explorers and this colonization was strongly connected with harassment, violence, sexual abuse of women, forced labor, poverty and many more. The initial reaction is to obey and follow because freedom here is not welcome. Food and water is scarce and people would rely on the given ration, in order to get that food, one must steal more food to accumulate one’s hunger. Once again, freedom is reinforced here. The people of this nation once weakened but tried to learn from their experience not to be placed in a box where freedom is impartial. They have to press a button like the cat to open the door for freedom and find the answer from that experience. It’s like every individual who naturally encountered past mistakes presumably that individual will recall that mistake when things similar to that situation happens again. Same situation for positive outcome is true where effects from that outcome you did last time will likely do that same again. Four types of operant conditioning (Heffner, 2004): Positive reinforcement: this happening is often associated to anything stimulus which strengthens the probability of a specific response which are expressed in praise or rewards. A good example is when a parent appreciated a child’s good work after they have done something positive like cleaning their own room. This will increase the possibility that the same reaction will be repeated. Negative reinforcement: this constitute on the elimination of a particular negative stimulus which is reinforcing in order to increase a response. An example of this is a nagging mother who always scolded her daughter or son to clean their house every week. After telling and complaining to their friends about the distressing words it counters and lastly performs the chore and eventually stopped the nagging. Punishment: this refers to adding together something induced dislike in order to lessen a behavior. Disciplining by way of spanking is the most common example of a specific misconduct. Punishment is disliked and will surely avoid it by behaving in a good manner. Extinction: When something is removed so as to lessen a behavior is called extinction. Example is when a child owns and addicted to a teddy bear which irritates a child’s asthma will likely to react initially but for the parents it is positive that the teddy bear be removed to decrease levels of negative outcome like grasping for air when sniffed a fabric or cotton from the teddy bear. Relevance and application to business sector: In the business sector these two types of learning method has a significant advantage and guarantee positive outcome in the future. Less emphasis on classical conditioning, the operant conditioning is more likely to apply in designing a training course or let’s say changing an employee from a specific behavior in the workplace. Since operant conditioning involves on how it operates in a certain environment and learning takes place as a result of the behavior, we will be more focused on the positive reinforcement which is a very good tool for improving an employee on its negative behavior in the workplace. However, there are times that positive reinforcement would not work so other method can be used such as negative reinforcement, punishment and extinction. Let’s take a common example of a negative manner seen in an employee like tardiness, sleeping, delayed reports, absenteeism, abuse of policies and many other unnecessary manners. In order to alleviate and ease the tension in the way it is practiced, the management can formulate a positive reinforcement like giving importance to the people who always come on time and are constantly prompt in coming to the office. This can be done through rewards and additional compensation and acknowledgement. While those employees who are intensively late all the time despite of warnings from the management should be more reprimanded and disciplined by giving them penalty. The concept of punishment is generated here to reduce tardiness and eventually employees will dislike the penalty or punishment and surely avoid the misconduct by coming on time and perform their duties in a timely manner. Negative reinforcement may or may not work as a method to prevent misconduct in a workplace since it dismays or disappoints an employee because it’s sometimes involves verbal reinforcement to decrease negative stimulus, this is more applicable to a parent-child relationship but for employees, it’s not lasting and holistic and possibly produce a unprincipled outcome.

Swedish Government Response to Prostitution

Swedish Government Response to Prostitution According to the WHO, prostitution is the exchange of money or goods for sexual services. Over the past decade, governments policies on prostitution have been contested both in academia and in popular debates. There have been approaches adopted by different countries, with a significant shift away from prohibition, towards legalization and decriminalization of prostitution. Understanding how countries regulate prostitution laws and adapt to the various models is critical for governments to observe. By analyzing the stances of the government, those involved in the sex industry, and the public, they can provide insight towards which approach other countries may find beneficial. Therefore, this paper will focus on the political implications of the attempts of various governments in regulating prostitution. By passing the Sex Purchase Act in 1999, the Swedish government took an unprecedented approach, decriminalizing prostitutes but prohibiting the purchase of sexual services (citation). The Swedish Model is known as partial decriminalization which primarily focuses on the governments stance regarding prostitution as intrinsically harmful to women and a hindrance to the governments goal of achieving full gender equality (cite reliability of government source citation). Because the Swedish laws base their alignment on the underlying principle of the gender equality policy, the government approaches prostitution from a perspective of gender equality and human rights by prohibiting the purchase of sexual services criminalizing the buyers. The model recognizes prostituted women as victims who are unjustly treated due to their weaknesses and clearly reflects the governments policy which desires to empower women to get out of prostitution. The Swedish government claims that partial decriminalization has improved prostitutes rights and reduced the rates of prostitution (citation). The Social Security Scheme grants prostitutes access to welfare and health care as taxable workers. These programs assisted nearly sixty percent of Swedens prostitutes quitting the practice (citation). The reduction in demand for prostitution is another significant result of the Swedish Model. As the current legislation punishes buyers with huge fines and a maximum of twelve months in prison, men have become less inclined to buy sexual services. According to research from the Nordic Gender Institute, the number of clients in Sweden from 1996 to 2008 declined from 13.6 % to 7.9 % (citation). By focusing on the demand side through prosecuting buyers, it may be easier for Sweden to eliminate a market for prostitution. Swedens current legislation is founded upon the publics acceptance of the gender-equality policy, stressing the value that women are not commodities. A study in 2001 reported that over 80% of the population supported the law and the principles behind partial decriminalization (citation why it is relevant). As the law received significant support, Swedish public attitude concerning the Sex Purchase Act changed. Four opinion polls, Kuosmanen study, SIFO, Swedish branch of TNS, Custom Market Research, showed that more than 70 percent of those asked had a positive view of the regulation (citation relevant). Judging by the results of four opinion polls, the publics view reflects the societys support for the Swedish Model. Thus, the government cannot discount the influence of the gender equality policy in changing societal attitudes towards partial decriminalization. Liberal feminists and some sex workers actively critique the law, arguing that it leaves sex workers stigmatized. Liberal feminists see prostitution as a womans choice to have sexual relations. A sex worker writes in the British Medical Journal, saying, Prostitution is having sex for money, and neither having sex nor getting paid is inherently degrading, abusive, exploitative, or harmful. The problem is coercion, drug dependency, lack of choices, not prostitution itself (Prostitution shake-up). Liberal feminists argue that Swedish law fundamentally infantilizes women by stigmatizing prostitutes through propagating stereotypical notions that women who sell sex are victims of prostitution. They object to the fact that the Swedish government did not consult sex workers or organizations regarding the law-making process. Because of the inability to voice their rights and partake in influencing government decisions, liberal feminists claim that prostitutes have been left powerless. Due to the lack of women in Nevada during its settlement in the 1800s, prostitution was considered a vital commodity which brought about a tolerant attitude towards the legalization of modern day brothels (citation history). In 1971, Nevada passed a law giving counties the ability to legalize brothels. Eric Herzik, chairman of the political science department at the University of Nevada, contends that the law on prostitution started out similarly due to the political culture of a libertarian system of government, which has legalized prize fighting, gambling, and divorce (Las Vegas Review study relevance). Though Nevada is the only state in the United States where prostitution is legal, it is subject to restrictions. The law permits prostitution in brothels in eight of the sixteen counties and does not allow any county with a population over 700,000 to license brothels (citation). This type of legalization, also known as the Nevada Model, decriminalizes prostitution in brothels, requi ring government supervision with strict regulations. The effects of legalization had an immediate impact as prostitutes had to undergo medical tests. From the perspective of those involved in the sex industry, the Nevada model has ensured their health and safety. A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health reveals that of the combined 3,290 clients of forty different legal sex workers, not one received sex without a condom (Albert and Warner). This result was due to a new law established in 1986 which required the mandatory usage of condoms during sexual activities. Moreover, the Nevada State Health Department reported that there were no cases of HIV/AIDS found in legal brothels (citation). The regulation has taken the health of prostitutes seriously to make brothels a safe and clean place (Brents and Hausback 2005). The installation of emergency buttons and regular police inspections have been the main reasons why some prostitutes prefer to work in a licensed brothel as they feel a sense of safety and receive pro tection from violence (citation). Since brothel owners consider prostitutes as independent contractors, they do not receive benefits of health care, vacation, retirement, or any other benefits full-time employees have. In response, prostitutes stress that regulation has discouraged them from getting licenses because they are left with about fifty percent of earnings after expenses, including boarding, maid services, condoms, and weekly medical checkups (citation). In addition to earning a meager living after paying all the expenses, they argue that the regulation fails to guarantee them unemployment insurances when fired (citation). While some view legalization as beneficial to prostitutes in regards to safety and health, others argue that the law imposes various obligations, overlooking violations of workers rights which benefits brothels and counties far more than individual prostitutes. The Swedish and Nevada models are examples of government choices in regulating prostitution. While the Swedish government and its proponents reason that partial decriminalization has fulfilled the gender equality policy, improved sex workers rights, and reduced prostitution rates, liberal feminists and those against the law claim that it has left prostitutes powerless and stigmatized. The government of Nevada and those involved in the industry acknowledge the health and security benefits of the law; however, sex workers argue that imposing strict rules further reduces their rights. Ultimately, the importance of understanding the two models and their political implications is vital as it may help governments to decide on which type of model they may enact in the future.

Jamaica’s Troubled Past Essay -- A Level Essays

Jamaica’s Troubled Past ‘The Maroons’ Jamaica’s fighting spirit can be seen even in its early days with the Maroons. The fighting spirit is not uncommon with people who are oppressed or forced against their will. The Maroons came in two waves, the first are slaves that fled during the Spanish rule, the second wave was during British control. The Maroons used the highlands of Jamaica to seek refuge, establish colonies and attack plantations when needed. Even today the beliefs and herbal practices of the Maroons are still evident in Jamaican culture. Their trouble past has made their life difficult but even today they are a presence in Jamaica. The First Deserters The idea of runaways did not take long in the Caribbean islands. Jamaica was not the only island experiencing runaways, Haiti, Cuba, and many Latin American countries were all falling victim to these guerilla style warfare tribes. During the first years of Spanish control the island of Hispaniola (Spanish Jamaica) experienced many problems with slaves. Columbus suggested to King Ferdinand in the first letter from his voyage of discovery, "I can bring slaves that are captured people, as many as are wanted." Disease and overwork killed many of the peaceable, indigenous Arawaks. Others hanged themselves, drank poisonous cassava juice, murdered and aborted their children rather than be enslaved. A few, the first Maroons, escaped into the craggy hills. (Olson, pg.234) Recent excavations at Nanny Town, the most important early Maroon settlement, support Maroon oral traditions that the first African refugees found accommodation among the Arawak. (Olson, pg.234) Correspondence from the last decade of the sixteenth century also suggests that Spanish colonial officials w... ...keth. Obeah; Witchcraft in the West Indies. Negro Universities Press. Westport, Connecticut. 1970. Buckley, Roger. Slaves in Red Coats. Yale University Pess, New Haven, CT. 1979. Campbell, Marvis. The Maroons of Jamaica 1655-1796. African World Press, Inc. Trenton, NJ. 1990. Drescher, Seymour. Econocide British Slavery in the Era of Abolition. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA. 1977 Hall, Gwendolyn. Social Control in Slave Plantation Societies. The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 1971. Olson, Eric. (Feb 2000). Mountain Rebels: The Flight from Slavery of Jamaicas’s Maroons. World and I v15:2, p234. Available: Expanded Academic Research. Reidell, Heidi. (Jan-Feb 1990). The Maroon culture of endurance. (history of Jamaica's runaway slaves) Americas (English Edition) v42 n1, p46(4). Available: Expanded Academic Research.

Catherine Newman’s story, “I Do Not.: Why I Won’t Marry” Essay

Catherine Newman wrote an essay, I Do. Not.:Why I won’t marry, and the essay is about her explanation why she does not want to married with Michael, her eleven years partner and the father of their son. I personally do not understand with her mind. First, she said that marriage is like a trafficking. Why she said that statement? Maybe she thinks that giving a dowry to the woman family is like buying their daughter? Come on Catherine there are no parents in this world who want to sell their daughter. Second, why she has a boyfriend if she does not want to married with him? This is what make me confused, she has a boyfriend but she doesn’t want to married, so what is the point of having boyfriend if she could not married with him? Moreover, she has a son with Michael. In my religion when you have a child before you are married, it is a sin. I think she is not ready to have a new role, wife. When she is married, she will get a new role as a wife but she is still not ready to get that role so she decided not to marry Michael. Why she is not ready? Besides, she has a son and she got a role as a mother. As we know, to be a mother is harder than to be a wife. In my opinion, Catherine does not want to married because she is having negative mind about marriage.

Of mice and men typicallity Comparison Essay

How typical is this passage of the ways in which Steinbeck uses detail to make readers think about events and characters? (27) This passage contains many techniques and figurative details typical of those Steinbeck has used throughout the novel Of Mice And Men. For example the use of light to suggest what is about to occur, reflecting the mood of the writing accompanying it completely. For example â€Å"sun streaks high†¦light†¦soft† has a very deep meaning, and goes along way to suggest what is to occur in the scene; with the height of the sun metaphorically showing the lateness of the hour for someone in the novel. Here it is almost certainly used to show what is to become of Lennie, with the light from the sun, the source of all life on earth fading and growing weak, implying metaphorically that his life is nearing its end; that his time at the ranch is about to be cut short, just as it had in every job that had preceded them. The use of natural imagery to show inevitability is not an unusual occurrence in this novel, with the â€Å"narrow beams of light† that are referred to here as â€Å"sun streaks† used earlier in this scene, during the discussion between Lennie and Curley’s wife used to portray prison bars, suggesting this time that it is impossible for her to escape her fate, that just like so many other times in this novel, death is inevitable. The way that Curley’s wife has been portrayed throughout this novel, as a flirt and trouble maker, is explored here in a very interesting way, with Steinbeck taking advantage of what had taken place to her to offer an element of alternate interpretation on her character; allowing her, through death, to tell her own story; a very different one to the one woven by the ranch hands. One the one hand how she was in life is stated obviously and with no hint of delicacy, the â€Å"meanness and ache†¦attention† that was apparently shown on her face offering a very simple look upon the superficial side of her character, but written in an ironically superficial style, allowing for the first time a hint at her true self to be displayed; a side that had by no means been explored before hand. In death, it seems that Steinbeck wanted to show how she could have been, how she and other women perhaps would be if not for the distraction, if not for the false sense of purpose installed in their heads by men. In death she is alone, alone with no need for the make up, the glamour or the sense that she is inadequate. When she has no one to impress, when there is no one left for her to aspire to or feel a need to impress she is â€Å"pretty and simple†, â€Å"sweet and young†, a far cry from the â€Å"jail bait† that she was referred to earlier in the novel. This viewpoint is one that was not offered by Steinbeck whilst she was alive, and so from that point of view this extract is highly atypical, and is the sole place in the novel that offers a chance to look upon women caught up in such situations as equally unfortunate and suppressed as the men that shared their fate. The briefness of this idea in the novel is deliberate, showing the discrimination women suffered from in the 1930’s – an idea explored consistently throughout this novel. The use of animalistic imagery is also highly typical of the novel, with the use of the â€Å"Shepard bitch† and the â€Å"pigeon† in this scene highly typical of the novel. Steinbeck uses these animals in a way as such to show that they appear to have a degree of intelligence, an ability to feel foreboding where as Lennie, who was also subjected to anthropomorphosis by Steinbeck, and yet had no power to see what was to occur, no power to leave when was necessary â€Å"the pigeon circled then flew out† , † the bitch†¦caught dead scent†¦scampered away†. In short lennie, despite all his characteristics, possesses less ability to asses a situation and its dangers than the simplest of animals. This is a confusing message, as he is presented with many animalistic qualities throughout the novel, however it is justifiable in that he is portrayed, crucially through metaphor as almost animalistic (â€Å"paw like hands†): He retains features and certain characteristics, and yet possesses none of the survival instinct, none of the ability to interpret a situation, no sense of flight and/or fight (shown by his need to be instructed to harm Curley in the barn († go on Lennie, fight back you crazy son of a bitch†)). He is innocent as the purest of animal, the simplest of minds, and yet this seemingly perfect existence has catastrophic effect on the lives of the two men – he is incompatible with human life, with society and as such he is tragically driven from it by the man who gave so much in an attempt to integrate him, his counterpart George. The demise of Lennie, the nature of it and the inevitability of such an occurrence are also highlighted through use of animals, giving more evidence to the typicality of this extract in comparison to the rest of the novel. Candys dog is slain by a third party, and the greatest regret of candy is that he did not take his own dogs life. The similarities between the fates of the dog and lennie are blinding and it is through this that it is made tragically evident what is to occur to lennie, and who it must be to do it: George must be the one to end his suffering, the one to send him to a better place, one where perhaps, he will be compatible. Steinbeck follows the conformations of descriptive writings with his work, and appeals to the senses of the reader in order to create the desired effects. He did so during the scene of the murder, where the minutes running up to, and the time immediately thereafter containing no sound, only a deadly silence with not even an animal present to disturb the deathly silence. He does so here too by manipulating the effects of sound, and the constant of time, deliberately altering their behaviour perhaps with ironic motive; if only there had been people present outside to cause noise at the time of the murder, someone to hear her scream; if only there had been a possibility for time to stand still, for enough time to pass in the barn for George to come and rescue Lennie, as he has done so often before. The need to silence the noise outside, the omission of even a whimper from the puppies who were present in the barn suggests such a motive is possible, and that here, like in so many other places in the novel, the sound, or the lack of it, is highly relevant. Just as the â€Å"heron swooped silently† to catch the wriggling water snake, so here silence prevails, a silence that shows intention on Steinbecks part, tragedy on the part of Lennie and is a perfect reflection of the readers mindset in reading the scene; aware what was to occur there, perfectly capable of deducing from the many escalating signs that it was coming, and yet still silenced by the reality of something so innocent as Lennie committing such an atrocity. The use of sound and time then is not merely a typical feature this passage shares with the rest of the novel; it is an integral feature that naturally they all have in common.

Persian Battle at Thermopylae in 300 Movie

Persian Battle at Thermopylae in 300 Movie Thermopylae (lit. hot gates) was a pass the Greeks tried to defend in a battle against the Persian forces led by Xerxes, in 480 B.C. The Greeks (Spartans and allies) knew they were outnumbered and hadnt a prayer, so it was no surprise that the Persians won the Battle of Thermopylae. The Spartans who led the defense were all killed, and they may have known in advance that they would be, but their courage provided inspiration to the Greeks. Had the Spartans and allies avoided what was, in essence, a suicide mission, many Greeks might have willingly medized* (become Persian sympathizers). At least that is what the Spartans feared. Although Greece lost at Thermopylae, the following year they won battles fought against the Persians. Persians Attack the Greeks at Thermopylae Xerxes fleet of Persian ships had sailed along the coastline from northern Greece into the Gulf of Malia on the eastern Aegean Sea towards the mountains at Thermopylae. The Greeks faced the Persian army at a narrow pass there that controlled the only road between Thessaly and Central Greece. Spartan King Leonidas was general in charge of the Greek forces that tried to restrain the vast Persian army, to delay them, and keep them from attacking the rear of the Greek navy, which was under Athenian control. Leonidas may have hoped to block them long enough that Xerxes would have to sail away for food and water. Ephialtes and Anopaia Spartan historian Kennell says no one expected the battle to be as short as it was. After the Carnea festival, more Spartan soldiers were to arrive and help defend Thermopylae against the Persians. Unfortunately for Leonidas, after a couple of days, a medizing traitor named Ephialtes led the Persians around the pass running behind the Greek army, thereby squashing the remote chance of Greek victory. The name of Ephialtes path is Anopaea (or Anopaia). Its exact location is debated. Leonidas sent away most of the amassed troops. Greeks Fight the Immortals On the third day, Leonidas led his 300 Spartan hoplite elite troops (selected because they had living sons back home), plus their Boeotian allies from Thespiae and Thebes, against Xerxes and his army, including the 10,000 Immortals. The Spartan-led forces fought this unstoppable Persian force to their deaths, blocking the pass long enough to keep Xerxes and his army occupied while the rest of the Greek army escaped. The Aristeia of Dieneces Aristeia relates to both virtue and the reward given the most honored soldier. In the Battle at Thermopylae, Dieneces was the most honored Spartan. According to Spartan scholar Paul Cartledge, Dieneces was so virtuous that when told there were so many Persian archers that the sky would grow dark with the flying missiles, he replied laconically: So much the better we shall fight them in the shade. Spartan boys were trained in night raids, so although this was a show of bravery in the face of countless enemy weapons, there was more to it. Themistocles Themistocles was the Athenian in charge of the Athenian naval fleet that was nominally under the command of the Spartan Eurybiades. Themistocles had persuaded the Greeks to use the bounty from a newly discovered vein of silver at its mines at Laurium to build a naval fleet of 200 triremes. When some of the Greek leaders wanted to leave Artemisium before the battle with the Persians, Themistocles bribed and bullied them into staying. His behavior had consequences: Some years later, his fellow Athenians ostracized the heavy-handed Themistocles. The Corpse of Leonidas There is a story that after Leonidas died, the Greeks tried to retrieve the corpse by means of a gesture worthy of the Myrmidons trying to rescue Patroclus in the Iliad XVII. It failed. The Thebans surrendered; the Spartans and Thespians retreated and were shot by Persian archers. The body of Leonidas may have been crucified or beheaded on Xerxes orders. It was retrieved about 40 years later. Aftermath The Persians, whose naval fleet had already suffered seriously from storm damage, then (or simultaneously) attacked the Greek fleet at Artemisium, with both sides suffering heavy losses. According to the Greek historian Peter Green, the Spartan Demaratus (on Xerxes staff) recommended splitting the navy and sending part to Sparta, but the Persian navy had been too heavily damaged to do so fortunately for the Greeks. In September of 480, aided by northern Greeks, the Persians marched on Athens and burned it to the ground, but it had been evacuated.