But the Greeks improved on the design, bit by bit, and over many years, until they became not commercial vessels ferrying cargo from Carthage to Cádiz, but warships that revolutionized naval combat and enabled Athens—led by the obstinate upstart Themistocles who built a fleet of 200 triremes, the largest navy Greece had ever seen—to challenge and defeat the Persian King.
So it is informative to look at how the finances of this group were impacted by the crisis and how they have changed their outlook as a result. As was the case for families overall, experiences varied widely.