Why were the battles of Thermopylae and Salamis important?

Answer 1

The battle of Thermopylae was a delaying land action to force the Persians into a sea battle to try to destroy the Persian fleet which threatened the Greek cities whih kept their main armies at home to protect their cities against amphibious attacks. This plan failed as the Persians won the sea battle of Artemesion in the strait next to Thermopylae, and the Thermopylae force was withdrawn as it was no longer required. So Thermopylae turned out to be unimportant other than Propaganda for the Spartans on the sacrifice they made to allow the other Greek contingents to escape when the delaying position was abandoned.

The southern Greeks tried again at the sea battle of Salamis, this time defeating the Persian navy, with the result that the Persian fleet no longer threatened the Greek cities and they were able the following spring to send out their armies to combine against the Persian army and its Greek allies and defeat it at the battle of Plataia.

This land defeat was helped by the Persian army being depleted because it's defeated navy was withdrawn to Asia Minor and could no longer protect the Persian resupply fleet, and half the Persian army had to be sent back to Asia as it could not be fed during the winter in Greece.

So Thermopylae is just a good story. Salamis sealed the outcome of the war.

Answer 2

The battles of Thermopylae and Salamis were important during the Greco-Persian Wars because they marked significant turning points in the conflict. At Thermopylae, a small contingent of Greek soldiers led by King Leonidas held off the Persian army, buying time for the Greeks to prepare for the larger battle. At Salamis, the Greek navy, under the command of Themistocles, defeated the Persian navy, effectively halting their advance into Greece. These victories boosted Greek morale and weakened Persian forces, ultimately leading to Greek victory in the war.