Special Sub-Topic: Ancient Military History Click Here To Play: Ancient Military History

What expansionist people defeated the Kingdom of Israel around 722 B.C?

Assyrians. After defeating the Israelites, the Assyrians deported the Hebrews to areas around Western Asia. This act is known to Hebrew history as the Diaspora.

The most elite fighting unit of what ancient empire's army was known as the 10000 Immortals?

Persia. The unit was given this name because any battle causualties were immediately replaced thus keeping the number always at 10,000.

At what now famous battle in 490 B.C did the Athenians and their Greek allies push the Persians back into the sea near the coast of Attica?

Marathon. According to legend, a messenger ran the 26 miles back to Athens with news of the victory and collapsed from exhaustion.

In the next installment of the Persian Wars, around 480 B.C a small force of Spartans held what mountain pass against the Persian Army.

Thermopylae. A small unit of 300 Spartans led by their king Leonidas held the pass until a Greek traitor showed the Persians the way around. Surrounded, the Spartans fought to the last man. Even though is was a Persian victory, the action gave the Greeks time to reorganize and eventually trap the Persian navy at Salamis.

In the 300's B.C what son of Macedonian king Philip II spread Greek culture throughout the Asian world by conquering territory nearly all the way to the Indian subcontinent?

Alexander. His father's leading cavalry officer by his late teens, Alexander spread Greek culture, known as Hellenism around the Mediterranean and Asian world.

What city state did Rome engage the Punic Wars with in the 200's B.C?

Carthage. The Romans eventually destroyed the city of Carthage completely. According to legend, the city was torn down and the fields were plowed and sowed with salt.

Who engineered the final defeat of Rome in 476 A.D?

Odovacer. Odovacer (or Odoacer), the chieftain of a group of small, obscure Germanic tribes, took Ravenna in 476. This date has long been regarded as the defintive end of Roman Empire, at least in the West. Odovacer was in turn deposed in 493 by Theodric the Ostrogoth, who established himself as King of Italy in Ravenna. Nepos remained titular emperor till his death in 480.

At what French town did the Frankish mayor Charles Martel defeat a Muslim raiding party in 732 A.D?

Tours. Some historians claim the battle actually took place at Poitiers.

At what battle did William of Normandy lay his claim to the English throne in 1066?

Hastings. Duke Williams cavalry defeated the tired and sick infantry of King Harold.

During what year did the First Crusaders (untrained peasant farmers mostly) leave for the Holy Land?

1096. These peasants were soundly defeated shortly after entering Asia.