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
When did democratic reforms start to take place in Athens?
Democratic reforms in Athens
c. 487 BCE – archons chosen by lottery not election
Only elected office is strategos
David vs Goliath victory
Sack of Troy
Civilization over barbarism
First Parthenon on Acropolis
480s – silver from Laurion
Themistocles urges the build a navy Triremes
How did Xerxes come into power? What were his goals?
Darius I dies 486 BCE
Son Xerxes takes over
Xerxes quells rebellions
484 BCE – prepares to invade Greece
Xerxes’ goals:
Redeem father; restore Persian pride
Show his own power as king
How big was the Persian Grand Army? What did it consist of? What was its weakness?
Estimated 1207 ships and c. 200,000 infantry
“Imperial Unity Parade”
Multi-ethnic army and fleet
Symbol to Persia and to Greeks
Strategic weaknesses of Grand Army:
Different ethnicities, languages, hierarchies
Logistics
Army supplied by fleet
Fleet protected by army
Limited tactical manoeuvrability
When was the second persian war? What problems were the Greek facing?
480-479
Greeks gather to come up with a plan (a bit late!)
Outnumbered – 350 ships and c. 100,000
infantry
Ask for help but don’t get it
Limited numbers = Need to be strategic Use Greek topography Defensive not offensive Delay over victory
How did thermogplae look?
Mountainous region
Plain out to coast
Archaic defensive wall
How many greek forces in total were in the 2nd persian war?
Greek forces totaled 7000 men
Including 300 Spartans and 700 perioikoi
What happened during the land battle at thermogplae?
Xerxes tries small attacks first
Medized troops
Royal guard (‘Immortals’)
Finds the mountain pass
Legend of Ephialtes
Spartan king Leonidas
Small contingent stays to protect retreat
300 Spartans (or more accurately, 297)
700 Thespians
400 Thebans
80 Mycenaeans
What happend at the battle of Artemisium?
parallel naval battle
14km strait at Artemisium
Persians
1207 triremes
3000 pentekonters
Greeks
271 triremes
9 pentekonters
Persians send small force against Greeks
Equal losses (but still worse for Greeks)
Retreat to Salamis
What happend at the battle of Salamis? 480 BCE
Xerxes sends fleet after ‘fleeing’ Greeks
Greek navy waiting in the Bay of Salamis
Narrow strait breaks Persian lines
Massive Greek success
Key turning point
Boost in Greek morale
Equalized naval numbers
Blow to Persian forces, prestige, pride
