The Persian Wars
A critical study of the Persian Wars 490–479 BC and the political, social and cultural
values and concepts of the Greeks and Persians.
The topic requires study in the areas of
 history and politics
 literature
 society and values.
The synoptic assessment will draw together knowledge, understanding and skills in
these three areas.
Candidates will be expected to link understanding of the events and personalities of
the Persian Wars and the societies and values of the Greeks and Persians to a
comparative analysis and evaluation of the two literary sources.
Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and the ability
to make a reasoned evaluation of the following texts:
1. Herodotus, The Histories Books 6, 7 and 8
and
2. Aeschylus, The Persians
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the nature of these texts as evidence and as representatives of their
literary genres
the reasons for Darius’ invasion at Marathon and for the Athenian victory
the reasons for Xerxes’ invasion of Greece
the reasons for the successes and failures of the Greeks and Persians
the battles up to and including
o the battle of Salamis (480 BC)
o the battle of Plataea (479 BC)
o the battle of Mycale (479 BC)
the role of prominent Persian and Greek personalities in each invasion
King Darius of Persia
Miltiades of Athens
King Xerxes of Persia
Themistocles of Athens
Leonidas of Sparta
Mardonius of Persia
Pausanias of Sparta
the differing attitudes of the Greek states towards Persia (including
medism)
changes in the relationships between Greek states during the period of the
Persian Wars
the differing political, social and cultural values and concepts of the
Persians and Greeks, as illustrated in the Ionian Revolt and Persian Wars,
including.
–– the ways in which Greeks viewed themselves as opposites of Persians (for
example, free and self-governing as opposed to servile and despotic)
–– the values and concepts implicit in the re-telling of the Persian Wars and the
extent to which they were treated as myth.