Final answer:
Themistocles's disinformation success was due to his strategic insight into the importance of naval power, building a navy that involved Athenian citizens, and the effective Greek phalanx against less motivated conscripted Persian forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The success of Themistocles's disinformation propaganda ploy during the Persian Wars can be attributed to several factors. Foremost among these was his insight into the strategic importance of naval dominance and the creation of a formidable Athenian navy powered by the very citizens it was designed to defend. This foresight and naval supremacy intimidated adversaries and leveraged Athens into a position of strength, especially in the Battle of Salamis.
Moreover, the structure and morale of the fighting forces were crucial. Greek soldiers, including those from Athenian society, were vested in their city-states and fought as a cohesive unit within the famed phalanx formations. In contrast, much of the Persian forces comprised unwilling peasant conscripts with little loyalty to their distant king, thereby reducing their effectiveness in battle. These collective factors ensured the effectiveness of Themistocles's propaganda, fostering a unified and determined Greek resistance that stood in stark contrast to the vast, but less motivated, Persian forces.