Persian Wars 1
PERSIAN WARS
STUDENT RESEARCH :
REFERENCES :
Maurice Kelly : View from Olympus chpt 9 p 81- 105
Carl Roebuck : The World of Ancient Times chpt 11 p236-252
Gae Callender : Aspects of Ancient Greece p125-166
Peter Green : A Concise History of Ancient Greece chpt 3 p101-116
Pamela Bradley : Ancient Greece
chpt 6 p109-158
OTHER REFERENCES :
J.R. Bury & R.A. Meiggs - A History of Greece chpt 7 p167-186
[Awesome - really try and get hold of this, these questions and activities are
loosely based on this book]
Time-Life Great Ages of Man Series -Classical Greece Chpt 4 p68-91 [a good read ]
Diane Hennessy: Studies in Ancient Greece chpt 5 p79-105
[Very easy to understand]
A.J Koutsoukis: History of the Ancient World - Ancient Greece chpt 5 p80104 [easy to read]
V. Ehrenberg: From Solon to Socrates [heavy but worth it]
also : Robinson A History of Ancient Greece ;
N.G.L. Hammond A History of Greece to 322 BC ;
Kitto The Greeks
PRIMARY SOURCES :
Herodotus : The Histories ;[great background - use the index ]&
Plutarch : The Rise and Fall of Athens chpts 3,4, 5 & 6
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1) ) The Rise of Persia and Fall of the Lydian Kingdom
Select the correct word from the box below:
Media ; military service ; Assyrian ; Second ; Halys ; Croesus ; language ; tyranny
; Sardis ; Cyrus ; Babylonia ; Miletus ; oracles ; tribute ; Asia Minor ; coinage ;
luxury items ; disunity ;
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a) In the 7th C BC the ................................. Empire was breaking up, Nineveh fell in
612 BC and the empire divided into ............................ and Media.
b) From 604- 562 BC the ....................... Great Babylonian Empire, the
“Babylonian Captivity of the Jews”.
c) ................... advances to the ..................... River. Greeks in ...................... often
attacked.
d) Rise of ......................... of Lydia 560 - 546 BC , subdues almost all eastern cities
of ............. .....................
e) Influence of the Greeks in this area: ........................, gods, .................. , while the
Lydians give the Greeks ......................... , ..................... ............ and encourage the
development of ........................... in subject cities .
f) .................... the Great takes over Media. Defeats Croesus at ................... 546
BC, change in influence, ....................... among the Greeks causes their downfall.
Generally tyrants remain in power if they pay ....................., give the Persians
......................... ........................ if requested but no other restrictions.
2) Darius becomes Great King of Persia in 521 BC
Select the correct word from the box below:
Macedonia ; Cyrus ; Danube ; Miltiades ; Greeks; Hippoclus ; satrapies ; Royal
Road ; Thrace ; Histiaeus ; Scythians ; autonomous ; Cambyses ;
a) He reorganised the Persian Empire into 20 ....................... but generally left the
Greek cities alone , they remained .............................
b) The .................. ....................., a very modern concept , connected all the Empire .
c) While ..................... had conquered the eastern section, ........................ had taken
over Egypt, Darius now planned to secure the north by taking ....................
d) In 512 BC his original plan was to subdue Thrace as far north as the
......................... River and extend Persian power westward to ...........................
e) A large fleet of .................... from Asia Minor were to support the army and also
help expected from ........................... of Miletus , ....................... of Lampsacus , and
....................... of Chersonese
f) Thrace was subdued but when Darius meets the .......................... the expedition
becomes ineffective.
3) Ionic [or Ionian] Revolt
Select the correct word from the box below:
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Susa ; Histiaeus ; Scythian ; Naxos ; Miletus ; expel ; dissatisfaction ; Athens ;
Sparta ; Cleomenes ; Aristagoras ; satrap; Persian ; mainland ; Artaphernes ;
democracy ; Eretria ;
a) In 511 BC .............................. the tyrant of Miletus , had been a naval commander
for Darius in the .............................. campaign and was summoned to .................. and
replaced as tyrant by his son-in -law ................................ .
b) Anxious to crush his commercial rival , the island of ................... , Aristagoras
suggested to ............................. , the Persian ................... of Lydia they undertake a
joint expedition against Naxos . The failure of this mission , fearing repercussions
from Persia caused Aristagoras to return to ........................ renounce his tyranny and
establish a ..........................
c) He urged other Greeks to ..................... their tyrants and throw off ......................
control in 499 BC. The readiness to revolt showed the general level of Greek
................................ with Persian rule .
d) The next steps in the revolt were to get help from the Greek ............................
King .......................of ...................... rejected his call but ..................... sent 20 ships and
men, while ..................... sent 4 ships.
4) Why did Athens get involved ?
a) Political: Athens was a democracy , what was the status of the Persian
controlled Asiatic Greek cities ?
b) Kinship: what was the relationship Athens had with many of the conquered
Asiatic Greeks?
c) Trade: what was Athens strategic plans for the Eastern Mediterranean?
d) Persian Expansion: how would Athens view the spread of Persian influence
into Europe?
e) Morale effect: how significant was the help Athens gave to the Ionian Revolt?
f) Darius’ failure against the Scythians: what did the Athenians think of their
chances?
5) The Revolt spreads
Put these events in the correct chronological order:
a) Mainland Greeks asked for help in revolt
b) “Sire, remember the Athenians”
c) Sardis burnt to the ground by Aristagoras in 498 BC
d) Miletus taken & destroyed by Persians in 494 BC
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e) Aristagoras incites the revolt of the Asiatic Greeks in 499 BC
f) Democracies set up in Asiatic Greek cities
g) Pro-Persian tyrants expelled, revolt spreads to Hellespont, Caria & Cyprus
h) Artaphernes deputed by Darius to put down the rebellion
6) Polycrates of Samos
Put these events in the correct chronological order:
a) Polycrates improved the city, Samos the strongest sea power in the region
b) Generally defied the Persians, extended his rule in Asia Minor
c) Tricked and captured by Persian satrap of Sardis
d) Sets up a joint tyranny with his brothers & with help of Lygdamis of Naxos
e) Crucified by Persian satrap of Sardis in 523 BC
f) Betrayed Egyptians when they were attacked by Cambyses, helps Persians
g) Made alliance with Egyptian ruler Amasis faced by Persian threat
h) Defeated Spartan attack on Samos
i) Throws away his best ring at sea , a fisherman gives him a big fish dinner (+ ring )
7) Last Phase of Revolt
Select the correct word from the box below:
Mardonius ; Lade ; Athens ; democracies ; Artaphernes ; Cyprus ; satrapy ;
Athenians; Persians ; Macedonia ; Greeks ; Histiaeus ; tyrannies ; Samians ;
tribute ; Darius ; Miletus ; mainland ; disunion ; Aristagoras ; Ionian ; Hellas ;
restraint ; Eretria ;
a) The ................ held their ground despite the greater forces of the ........................ in
the first two years of the war. However ........................ and a lack of a clear objective
were the main enemies of the Greeks.
b) ............................... sent to mediate between ............................ and .....................................
failed and fled to Chios.
c) ....................... was recovered by the Persians in 497 BC and the tide turned
against the Greeks .
d) Aristagoras and Histiaeus were both killed and the ...................... deserted to the
Persians . The rest of the ................... fleet was wiped out in 494 BC at ...............
e) .............................. was utterly destroyed and Caria reconquered .
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f) These events were regarded as the first round in the struggle between Persia
and .................... , but it also gave the ............................Greeks a reprieve of a few years
.
g) The help given by the ............................ drew upon them the vengeance of
......................
h) Surprisingly the Persians acted with great ....................... after the revolt , the
........................... was not increased for the Ionian cities and ...............................were
replaced with ...........................
i) ...................................., son-in -law of Darius , recovered the ....................... of Thrace in
492 BC & took back control of ...................................
j) He then proceeded to prepare an expedition to punish ..................... and
...........................
8) Persian Punitive Expeditions - answer in your books
a) Who in exile at Susa urged the Persians to attack Athens ?
b) What happened to the fleet in 492 at Mt Athos ?
c) What was the plan in 491 BC ?
d) What could Greek cities give to escape Persian attack ?
e) Who gave in to the Persians ? Why ?
f) Who commanded the Persian forces ?
g) Who else was with them with “inside knowledge” of Athens ?
h) What brilliant Athenian leader had emerged to battle the Persians ?
9) Battle of Marathon
a) List briefly the course of the battle , in point form
b) What was the role of the following in the battle?
i) Miltiades
ii) The Plataeans
iii) The Spartans
iv) Callimachus
10) Results of the Battle –copy into your books:
a) Immediate peril from angry Persians
b) Temporary setback or permanent check to Persia?
c) A shift in strategy for next time?
d) Beating the unbeatable?
e) An end to inter Greek squabbling?
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f) The rest of Hellas inspired to resist a greater invasion
g) Spirit of Athens, prestige, self confidence, ambition etc
h) Seal on Athenian democracy
i) Tyranny averted
j) Miltiades immortalised
11) Why did Athens win the Battle ?
List as many reasons as you can to explain their success.
12) Athens 490 -480 BC
a) What happened to Miltiades after the assault on Paros?
b) What group returned to power in Athens?
c) Who emerged as the leader of the mercantile class?
d) Who was ostracised in 482? Why?
e) What was the result of Athens struggle with Aegina from 487 - 482 BC?
f) What were the four important changes to the Athenian constitution?
- Election of magistrates; - powers of polemarch
- Leader of future military expeditions; - ostracism
g) What actions of Themistocles showed great foresight for Athens?
-
Piraeus in 488 BC;
-
silver mines at Laurium ;
-
Athenian sea power
13) The Great Invasion of Xerxes
Rearrange these events in correct chronological order:
a) BATTLE OF SALAMIS - Xerxes overnight sends Egyptians to block
western exit of Straits , sends fleet across eastern exit , lands troops on Psyttalea
b) Northern Greeks on Delphic warning waver , but Sparta , supreme in
Peloponnese since defeat of Argos 494 BC , heads resistance and is backed by
Athens
c) Xerxes sails for Hellespont to secure loyalty of Ionian Greeks
d) BATTLE OF SALAMIS - On rout of Persian fleet Aeginetians
intercept retreat
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e) Xerxes prepares huge armaments -250,000 troops , bridges Hellespont , cuts
canal through Mt. Athos
f) BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE - Leonidas the Spartan and 10,000
Greeks holds Thermopylae till taken in the rear by Immortals led by traitor
Ephialtes
g) Persian fleet is severely mauled at ARTEMISIUM by storms and Greek
attacks
h) BATTLE OF SALAMIS - Next morning Persian fleet attacks and is
drawn into straits by feigned flight of the Greeks
i) Attempt of Greeks to hold pass of TEMPE -north Thessaly , outflanked by
inland march of Persians
j) BATTLE OF SALAMIS - Persians on Psyttalea butchered
k) Persian detachment marches on Delphi , but is repulsed by mountaineers
l) Spartan Eurybiades wishes to withdraw Greek fleet from Salamis to Isthmus,
but Themistocles forestalls this withdrawal by warning Xerxes
m) While Spartans concentrate on defence of Isthmus , Attica is overrun by
invaders , Athenians , transporting women etc to safety , leave town to invaders
14) The March of Xerxes
a) What was his original plan of attack?
b) How did he cross the Hellespont?
c) There was a Hellenic Congress of 481 BC- What was the purpose?
- What states were represented?
- What was the outcome of the talks?
- What appeals were made to other states?
- Who were the generals & admirals?
15) The Battles of Artemisium and Thermopylae
a) The Pass at Tempe was originally chosen as a battlefield.
- How many troops were sent there?
- Why was it not suitable?
- What was the final result?
b) The Pass at Thermopylae draw map Bradley p 140 or Kelly p 96
- Why was Thermopylae chosen?
- Was there any other route possible for the Persian army?
- How many men did Leonidas have to defend the pass?
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- How many Spartans?
- Why such small numbers?
- Why didn’t this suit Athens?
- What was the Spartan policy?
c) The Battle of Artemisium draw map in Bradley p 141
- Where is this place?
- Why was it chosen?
- How many ships on each side?
- How many ships were sent back to Euripus?
- What happened to the 200 Persian ships ?
- What happened at Artemisium ?
- What was the result ?
d) The Defence of Thermopylae 480 BC
- Who was there to help Leonidas ?
- How many days did Xerxes wait ?
- What happened on the 5th & 6th days ?
- What about the Immortals ?
- What part did Ephialtes play ?
- How many Greeks stayed in the pass ?
- What 3 races were there ?
- Where did the rest of the Greeks move to ?
- What was the plan ?
- What did Leonidas do with the 300 ?
- How many Greeks altogether fell?
- What was done to commemorate this event?
- Copy the epitaph at the battle site [Callender p141]
- What did the Greek fleet do ?
16) The Battle of Salamis draw map Kelly p 98
a) Xerxes takes CENTRAL Greece . What places or states were taken?
b) The Isthmian Wall Defence:
- What was this plan?
- What were the consequences of this for Athens, Megara, Aegina?
- What did Themistocles decide to do?
- How much was given to each citizen?
- Who was left to defend the Acropolis?
- How many Greek ships were in the Bay of Salamis?
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- Who was in command of the army at the Isthmus ?
c) Athens taken by Xerxes
- How long did the Acropolis hold out ?
d) Salamis or the Isthmus ???
- What were the advantages of defence of the Isthmus ?
- Why did Themistocles want a naval battle ?
- Where is Psyttalea ? Why was it important as a position?
- Where were the Greeks stationed?
- Where were Xerxes ships placed?
e) Outline briefly in point form the actual battle
f) What were the results of this battle?
17) After Salamis
a) What was Xerxes response to the defeat?
b) What did the Persian army then do?
c) Why was the Persian fleet sent back to Hellespont?
d) Why didn’t the Greeks follow up the victory?
e) What was the response in the Greek world to the victory?
f) What happened to Aegina?
18) The Battle of Plataea
Draw map Kelly p100
Select the correct word from the box below:
Mardonius ; Boeotia ; Cithaeron slopes ; dawn ; Thessaly ; Pausanias ; Asopus ;
fleet ; Spartans; booty ; Mycale ; satrapy ; Athens ; Plataea ; night retirement ;
Athenians ; Ionian ; Medizing ; Leotychidas ;
a) The Persian commander ............................ was left behind with 150,000 troops and
spent the winter in .............................
b) In the spring of 479 BC , he intended to secure the ....................... over North
Greece and descended through ........................ and offered Athens an alliance .
When the Athenians rejected this he reoccupied the city of .......................
c) When the Spartan ........................... and 100,000 Greeks approached he retired
over Mt Cithaeron to ................................
d) The Battle :
Position 1 -The Greeks on the ....................... ................... repulsed the Persian horse .
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Position 2 - The Greeks move to the plain , hoping to force battle on favourable
ground but are held on the south bank of the River ........................
After several days , since their watering parties are harassed by the Persian horse
and supplies intercepted in passes , the Greeks retreat to towards the mountain .
Position 3 - The Greeks go astray during the ................ ............................... and are
attacked at .................. by the Persians . The .........................with difficulty rout the
Persian attack but fail to take the camp , till the ......................... and other Greeks ,
after defeating ......................... Boeotians , come up to assist , great slaughter and
...................
e) The Greek .................... under Spartan ............................... ,inactive since Salamis
venture over to aid Samos , they land and destroy the Persian fleet at ...................... ,
aided by .................... Greeks ,who desert the Persians .
19) Reasons for Greek Success:
Copy into your books :
a) The strength & skill of the navy and the Persian weakness , comparatively in sea
power
b) Sagacity of Themistocles
c) Unwavering patriotism of volunteers fighting for their country against conscripts
and mercenaries
d) Superiority of quality in troops over quantity . The Greek hoplites were
superior to the Persian troops
e) The length of the Persian lines of communication & bungling by Persian leaders
20) Results of the Persian Wars
Copy into your books :
a) Defeat of Persia meant a period of freedom for the Greeks to develop
culturally
b) Greece was supreme in the Aegean & Athens continued the wars of liberation
from 478 -470 BC
c) Athenian leadership had been established . Athens ready to adopt a PanHellenic society ; Sparta without a fleet & dominated by conservatism content to
return to her interests in the Peloponnese esp. after Pausanias
d) A new spirit of patriotic faith engendered & found expression in architecture ,
sculpture & literature that has never been surpassed
e) Necessity of permanent naval organisation to protect Ionian cities led to the
formation of the Delian League
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f) Themistocles fortified Athens anew, built Long Walls to protect Attica .
21) Persian Wars Revision -Match the person with his achievements:
a)
Persian general whose attempt to invade Greece failed in
CROESUS
492 BC. Accompanied Xerxes’ expedition in 480 BC,
finally killed at the Battle of Plataea 479 BC
b) CYRUS
Spartan leader who defeated Persians at Plataea , later
disgraced for his actions at Byzantium
c) DARIUS
King of Lydia. Former overlord of the Ionian Greeks. His
defeat by Cyrus brought Persian interest to Ionia
d)
King of Persia who led unsuccessful invasion of Greece in
HISTAEUS
480 BC. Left his cousin Mardonius in Greece to continue
the campaign the following year.
e)
Athenian general who defeated the Persians at Marathon.
ARISTAGORAS
Died soon after his defeat at Paros and subsequent
disgrace.
f) MARDONIUS
After defeating Croesus, dominated the Greek Ionian cities
and imposed heavy taxes on them
g)
Conquered Thrace in 513 BC and thus posed a threat to
MILTIADES
mainland Greece. Sent Mardonius to Greece in 492 BC,
sent Datis and Artaphernes in 490 BC, but they were
defeated at Marathon
h)
Led the Ionian Revolt; tried to enlist support from the
THEMISTOCLES
mainland Greeks but only got help from Athens and Eretria
i) XERXES
Ionian supporter of Darius. His unfair treatment by the
Persians antagonised the Ionians
j)
Athenian leader who strengthened his states navy ; fortified
PAUSANIAS the Piraeus . Defeated the Persians at Salamis ; rebuilt the
walls of Athens against possible Spartan attack .
Ostracised in 472 BC
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