7. Persia War Flashcards
What were some pre-campaign rituals?
Delphic Oracle
Mantis – seer, soothsayer; Perform mantike
Could delay or stop participation
E.g., Sparta, Battle of Thermopylae – Festival of the Karnea
What are some Pre-battle rituals?
Pre-battle rituals
More sacrifices and omens
What is a paean ?
hymn
How long would battles normally last, what were the causality rates like?
Short fight, low casualty rates—-battle was longer than an hour. seldom over 15% of casualties. massacres were rare. both sides would collect their dead and head home.
Who was Cyrus II? What are the notable events that occurred in his life?
Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) 559-530 BCE
c. 550/40 BCE – Defeats Media
546 BCE – Defeats Lydia (king Croesus)
Also gets Ionian Greek cities (that had been Croesus’)
539 BCE – conquers Babylon
Gets Assyria, Syria, Palestine
What are satrapies? Who controlled them, what tributes were accepted?
Satrapies – provinces (of Persia)
Local leadership controlled by Persian king
Tributes of money, troops, and labour
What shifts were starting to take place in persia?
530 BCE – Cyrus killed on campaign against Scythians
Sons Cambyses and then Smerdis takes over
Darius I (Darius the Great) 522-486 BCE
Centralized Persian government
Moved the capital to Persepolis
Important and long-lasting changes
Division of empire into 20 satrapies—-had a governor for each, was divide into military and civil officials
Supreme power of the king
Who were allies with Persia? (6)
Aegean Islands (c. 546 BCE)
Macedon (510-500 BCE)
Aegina (c. 492 BCE)
Argos (late 490s BCE)
Thessaly (490s BCE)
Ex-Athenian tyrant Hippias
How were Ionian Greeks feeling at this time?
Growing discontent over Persian rule
When was the Ionian Revolt? What were the consequences?
499-493 BCE
Aristagoras – tyrant of Miletus Unite Ionians in revolt Asked Sparta for help but they declined Athens = 20 ships Eretria = 5 ships-------ships given in support of effects
498 BCE – Greeks burn provincial capital of Sardis
494 BCE – massive naval defeat near Miletus
Pro-Persian propaganda rising
Some Ionian allies desert—–unsuccessful, Greek moral has fallen. allies deserted the Greeks. Miletus was destroyed.
Miletus destroyed
Mardonius (Persian commander) pacifies Ionian Greeks
Mainland Greeks fear the same fate as Miletus
What were possible reasons for the 1st Persian War
Possible reasons:
Athens broke alliance
Mainland Greece burned provincial capital of Sardis
Athens and Eretria had sent ships in support of revolt
Persian policy of expansion
How did the 1s Persian war start?
490 BCE – King Darius I attacks Greece
Eretria destroyed
September 490 – Persian armada lands at Marathon
Athenians call on Spartans for help – “No thanks, busy.”
March with Plataeans
What happened at the battle of marathon?
Greeks outnumbered 2 : 1
Athenians at battle = not protecting city
Athenian strategy = defensive
Miltiades (Athenian general)
Draw Persians into Athenian center
Athenian wings wrap around
Casualties: 6400 Persians vs 192 Athenians
(and 11 Plataeans)
Legend of Pheidippides–ran from Athens to Sparta to call them for aid, then ran from marathon to Athens to announce victory. then died on the spot.
What does Marathonomachoi mean?
those who fought at Marathon
What happened after Marathon for those who fought?
192 Athenians heroized – great honours
Miltiades On trial by enemies