02-16-2012, 07:14 PM
The problem is there are so many things we don't know. If Xerxes' ministers who overlooked the drafting of soldiers and the logistics of supply, arming etc for the expedition had left behind records of their actions and figures for it all, it would be much simpler. But we don't know enough, everyone is guessing. Xerxes prepared for years before making his move. I'm wondering things like could they have had the ability to preserve and stockpile enough food for the army? How did they actually go about accomplishing it? As some assert, its a mistake to underestimate what they might have accomplished. It would seem that they had the population base for a very large army. If they could feel the millions of people in the empire, the food should be available to feed a small percentage of that population in an expedition. Lacking knowledge of just how they did it, we're guessing. As far as believing they couldn't compete with modern technology, consider the achievements of the Ancient Egyptians that modern technology has yet to match. They were ancient not stupid. If you can preserve meat indefinitely and grain, 4 years is a long time to stockpile. So maybe it was possible to supply a very large army. It would be funny if it were proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Herodatus was right or right-ish. But regardless, I'm thinking Xerxes was hoping for a quick campaign, wow the Greeks with shock and awe with a massive army, and the Greeks submit. It just didn't work out that way.
Caesar audieritis hoc
