Kevin’s Cards about The Persian Wars Flashcards
What had the Persians accomplished by 500 B.C
In 500 B.C, the mighty Persian Empire sprawled across an enormous expanse
Who had the Persians captured by 500 B.C
The Persians had captured Mesopotamia, Egypt, and even parts of India
Where did the Persians begin their conquest
The Persians began their conquest along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What did the Persians do after starting at the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers
They then pressed west, overwhelming Asia Minor and, for the first time, meeting the Greek city-states
What are the conflicts between the Greek city-states and The Persians called
The Persian Wars
What did the outcome of the Persian War determine
The outcome of the Persian Wars rested the fate of the Greek city-states — and the future of Athenian democracy
True or False: The Persian Empire included most of Asia Minor, where Greek colonists had founded some cities, in 500 B.C
True
Who was the ruler of the Persian Empire in 500 B.C
The ruler of the Persian Empire in 500 B.C was King Darius I, and he was so powerful that his people called him the “King of Kings”
How was the army of King Darius I like
Darius’ army was massive and well-armed, and when trouble brewed in his realm, he dispatched armies to put down the unrest
Who were the Persians enemy
The Greeks
Why did the Greeks not like the Persians
The Greeks did not like the thought of being ruled by someone hundreds of miles away
Why did Greek colonists in Asia Minor rebel against the Persians
They did not like the idea of being ruled by someone hundreds of mile away
What did the Greek colonists in Asia Minor do
Greek Colonists in Asia Minor rebelled against Darius, and called upon the city states of mainland Greece for help
How was the call for help by the Greek colonists in Asia Minor taken by the Greek city-states
The Spartans did not help the colonists, but the Athenians answered the call by sending ships and soldiers to assist the uprising
What was the first event of the Persian Wars
The rebels, with Athenian help, made a bold attack on the Persians and burned Sardis , and important city in Asia Minor
What was the second event in the Persian Wars
Due to the attack of Sardis, a surprised Darius asked who dared to help the rebels, and his men responded “The Athenians”
What was the third event in the Persian Wars
The Persian army soon crushed the Athenian army in Asia Minor, yet the victory did not soothe Darius’ anger
What was the fourth event of the Persian Wars
Darius never forgot what the Athenians did to help the colonists in Asia Minor, and to help to not forget, he had a servant constantly remind him of it every time he ate
What was the fifth event of the Persian Wars
Darius keeps an eye on the Greeks, and prepares his army
What was the sixth event of the Persian Wars
Darius sends messengers to Athens and Sparta to tell them there is no point resisting captivity by their king (Darius), and they should give them earth and water from their cities as a tribute. They said when this was done, they would take it back to Darius to show him that you (the Greeks) recognize him as your emperor, and he shall not attack
What was the seventh event of the Persian Wars
The Athenians and Spartans throw the messengers down wells
What was the eight event of the Persian Wars
Darius heated what had happened to the messengers, and became furious. In 490 B.C, he dispatched the Persian Army across the Aegean Sea. It landed on the Greek mainland just 24 miles north of Athens on a plain called Marathon
What was the ninth event of the Persian Wars
Frightened by the Persians arrival, the Athenians sent a runner to Sparta to ask them to help them fight off the Persians, yet they declined, claiming they had to finish celebrating a religious festival
How were the prospects looking for Athens, going into battle with the Persians (At Marathon)
The prospects of Athens seemed grim, for the Persians were trained soldiers while they were mostly farmers and shopkeepers
What was the size comparison between the Athenian army and the Persian army
The Athenian army was half the size of the Persian’s
How long did King Darius l rule Persia
King Darius l ruled Persia from 521 B.C to 486 B.C
What did Darius l do to ensure everyone knew he was a great king
Darius l wanted to make sure everyone knew hew was a great king, so he tasked a small army of workers to carve a message proclaiming all his accomplishments onto a rock face in Persia, 300 ft off the ground
What languages did the rock face, 300 ft above the ground, that King Darius ordered to be built have
The message was written in three languages: the Persian language, Babylonian cuneiform, and a forgotten language that was deciphered with the use of the previous two, Sumerian cuneiform.
What did King Darius l’s rock face message lead historians and archeologists to
Darius led archeologists and historians to the earliest known civilization — Sumer
How was the Athenians cavalry (Going into the Battle of Marathon)
Athenians had a weak cavalry, and no bows and arrows
What three things did the Athenians have in their favor against the Persians at Marathon
The Athenians had three things in their favor: 1) they were free men fighting invaders — they had the fierce motivation of those determined to defend their land, homes, and families 2) they had a fine general, named Miltiades 3) they had a special Greek way of fighting the Persians had not encountered before. They marched into battle in the densely packed formation called the phalanx
How did armies in a phalanx usually attack
The phalanx usually attacked usually attacked in a running trot, smashing into the lines of enemy soldiers
What was the tenth event of the Persian Wars
The Athenians meet thePersians in Marathon, called the Battle of Marathon, in which they enter in a Greek formation called a phalanx
What was the eleventh event of the Persian Wars
Looking over the plains of Marathon, Miltiades saw how he might win the battle. Most of his men had heavy shields and armor. The Persians, on the other hand, depended on their bows and arrows. If the Greeks could get through the storm of arrows raining down on them, they might have a chance
What was the twelfth event of the Persian Wars
The Athenians charged towards the Persians without archers or horses, making the Persians believe they were madmen
What was the thirteenth event of the Persian Wars
The Athenians kept close together and raised their shields to form a solid wall that saved them from the Persian arrows
What was the fourteenth event of the Persian Wars
When the Athenians were at close range, they drew their swords, and threw themselves at the Persians
Where did the Persians their strongest soldiers compared to the Greeks
The Persians had put their strongest soldiers in the center while Miltiades concentrated his strength on the ends of his lines
What was the fifteenth event of the Persian Wars
Miltiades’ strongest soldiers quickly beat the weaker Persian soldiers, then rushed in to help the Greek troops in the center. The Persians were surrounded. They could not even retreat safely. Miltiades’ plan won the battle
According to Heredotus, In The Battle of Marathon, how many Greek and Persian soldiers died
According to Herodotus, 6,400 Persians died while the Greeks lost 192 men in the Battle of Marathon
After the Battle of Marathon, how did the Athenian army inform the other Athenians of the great victory (the one still at Athens)
To inform the Athenians of the great victory, the Greeks sent one of their soldiers, a strong runner, named Pheidippides whose name meant “spare the horse”
According to legend, what did Pheidippides do
According to legend, Pheidippides ran Mose than two dozen miles from Marathon to Athens without stopping, over hills, rocks and ditches. When he reached the city, he gasped, “Victory is ours!” and then dropped dead from exhaustion
After the Battle of Marathon, what “treasure” did the Athenians find
After the Battle of Marathon, the Greeks discovered buried treasure: They discovered mines of rich silver ore near Athens, and when the ore was mined, Athens would have great wealth. However the Athenians did not know what to do with the treasure
What did Athenians say to do with the “treasure” (the silver ore from the mine)
Some Athenians thought the wealth should be divided amongst citizens, other citizens thought the riches should be used for building, but then Themistocles, a general who fought at the Battle of Marathon, proposed a different idea
What did Themistocles believe the the “treasure” (the silver ore from the mine) should be spent on
Themistocles thought Athens might not yet be safe, and the wealth should be spent on ships
What did Themistocles insist the Athenians to build with the “treasure” (the silver ore from the mine)
As a port city and center of trade, Athens already had many merchant ships, yet Themistocles insisted that Athens needed a fleet of warships, in case the Persians launched another invasion, and the Athenians agreed
What did the Athenians use their new wealth (from the silver ore) to build
The Athenians used their new wealth to build 200 swift and slender wooden ships
What did the Athenians do when they wanted to know what laid in store
When Athenians wanted to know what lay in store, such as if they will ever use the warships, they trekked high in the mountains to a place called Delphi
What was at Delphi
At Delphi, there stood a shrine to the god Apollo. The Greeks believed that Apollo spoke through a priestess called an oracle. This priestess was famous throughout Greece, for her prophecies always seemed to come true
What did the Athenians do to make sure they beat the Persians
The Athenians sent representatives to consult the oracle at Delphi, to ask about the Persians
What was the oracles first response to the Athenians when they first came
The oracle, according to Herodotus answered: “Why do you sit here doomed ones? Fly to the ends of the world! Leave your homes and the heights of your city. The head shall not remain in its place — nor the body, nor the feet beneath. All is ruined! Death is speeding in a chariot. Fire and the god of war will bring you low. The temples reel and tremble. Blood runs from from their roofs. It streams in prophecies of woe. Go, flee from the sanctuary. Bow your hearts to grief!”
After hearing the first prophecy, what did the Athenians believe
The Athenians, after hearing the prophecy, believed the Persians would destroy them, for the prophecy was never wrong, so the Athenians prayed for mercy from the gods
What did the Athenians do after praying to the gods for mercy after hearing the first prophecy
After praying, the Athenians returned to Delphi and begged for another answer. This time, the priestess delivered a confusing prophecy: “All shall be taken — even the gold of the holy mountain. But the all-seeing Zeus grants your prayers. The wooden wall alone shall not fall. It will shelter you and your children. But do not wait for the men on foot and horse from Asia. Turn your backs. Flee from the foe. A day will come when you will meet him. Divine Salamis will bring death to many women’s sons!”
What did Themistocles understand about the prophecy
Themistocles figured out the prophecy, and said “the wooden wall” meant the warships, the “Do not wait for the men ion foot and horse” meant that the Athenians should not fight them on land, but on sea, the meeting place would be near Salamis, and island close to Athens, and to prepare, Themistocles ordered more ships to be built
After the second prophecy, Athens built the largest what in Ancient Greece
Army
What were most Athenian ships called
Most Athenian ships were called triremes, that had masts and sails, but it’s power came from its rowers
The rowers of triremes sat in groups of what
Three
Why was rowing triremes dangerous
Rowing was dangerous because triremes sank other ships by ramming into them
What did Athenian triremes consist of
Greeks built triremes with long, metal-tipped spikes that jutted from the bow, just below the water line
What could the spikes of Athenians triremes do
These spikes, at ramming speeds, could rip a hole in another ship
What did enemy ships do to triremes, and what danger did it oppose
Enemy ships also tried to ram triremes, which also put rowers in danger
How were the Athenian rowers equipped
The Athenian rowers were unarmed, and usually were the first men killed in naval battle
Rowing a trireme was not only dangerous, but also ___
Tiring
What were the rowers trained to do
The well trained rowers had to work in perfect rhythm. That took strong discipline. They had to be able to follow orders quickly, for if they lost even a few seconds, disaster could follow
How did Persian and Athenian rowers compare
The Persians used slaves to row their ships, but the Athenian rowers were free, usually poor, men
How did Athenian soldiers and rowers compare in equipment
Athenian foot soldiers had to have enough money to buy armor, but an Athenian rower did not need to buy anything. All he needed was a strong back and strong arms, so even a pore man could help defend Athens by rowing
What impact did the growth of the Athenian navy have on the Athenians
The growth of the navy not only gave the Athenians more confidence, it also helped Athens become more democratic
What happened as the Athenian navy became more important
As time went on, and the Athenian navy grew more important, the rowers, who were proud of their skill and courage, demanded more rights, which they received
Athen citizens between which ages were required to serve as soldiers, if needed
Athenian citizens from ages 17 to 59 were required to serve as soldiers, if needed
What were armed foot soldiers called
Armed foot soldiers, called hoplites, carried spears, short swords, and shields into battle
Which families did hoplites usually come from
Hoplites usually came from fairly wealthy families, for they had to pay for their equipment, but if a soldier whose father had been killed in battle needs equipment, they were armed by Athens at a public expense
How many years passed before the Persians attempted another attack
Ten years would pass before the Persians attempted another invasion of the Greek mainland
During the ten year period, before the next Persian attack, what happened to Darius
Darius passed away, and his son Xerxes came to power
How did Darius and his son Xerxes compare
Xerxes was more arrogant and ambitious than his father, and was determined to conquer the proud Greeks
How big was Xerxes military
Xerxes amassed a military staggering in its size — probably 200,000 soldiers or more, as well as several hundred ships
Why did Xerxes believe he would conquer the Greeks
Xerxes believed he would win because the city-states were small and often fought each other
What did the Greeks do, due to the fact that not one city-state could beat Persia alone
The Greeks knew no polis alone could beat Persia alone, so 30 city-states put aside their quarrels and formed a league of defense against the Persian threat. They agreed Sparta would be their leader
What happened in 480 B.C.
In 480 B.C, the Persian army attacked from the north. To reach Athens and Sparta, the Persian army would have to go through a narrow path in the mountains, at a place called Thermopylae, meaning “hot gates”
How did Thermopylae get its name
Thermopylae was named for the hot springs that bubbled up from the earth nearby
How guarded the pass at Thermopylae
King Leonidas of Sparta guarded the pass at Thermopylae with only six or seven thousand men, so they were greatly outnumbered, but had positioned themselves in the narrowest part of the path, where they hoped to hold off the Persians
What did King Leonidas’ name mean
King Leonidas’ name meant “like a lion”, for he was like a lion
What happened as the Persians moved closer to the pass at Thermopylae
When the Persians moved towards the path, Spartan scouts warned their arrows would darken the sun like a cloud and how they were greatly outnumbered, yet Leonidas responded, “All the better, we shall fight them in the shade.”
What happened when the Persians reached the pass at Thermopylae
The Persians attacked continuously, but each time the Greeks drove them back. For two days Leonidas held the pass, but with the help of Greek traitors, the Persians located trails around the pass, and at night, began to outflank the Greeks
What did Leonidas do when he realized that doom was certain if they stayed at the pass at Thermopylae
Realizing doom was certain, Leonidas ordered most of the troops to retreat to the south, but with his personal guard of 300 Spartans, he would hold the pass as long as possible
What happened to Leonidas and his 300 men that stayed at the pass at Thermopylae
Xerxes’ army rushed forward. Leonidas and the brave Spartans stood fast for a day, but one by one they fell , and at the end of the day, no Spartan remained alive. Since that time, the Spartans at Thermopylae have been remembered as a great example of honor in battle and faithfulness to duty. Years later, Greeks erected a monument at the pass that read: “Pause, traveler, ere you go your way. Then tell how, Spartan to the last, we fought and fell.”
What happened after Xerxes took control of the pass at Thermopylae
Xerxes had taken the pass, but at the cost of thousands of men and a delay of a few days. This time cost him dearly. He marched his army south from Thermopylae and found Athens empty. The Athenians had sent their families to safety on the island of Salmis. The Athenian army was waiting aboard ships nearby. The Greek soldiers could see Athens going up in flames, yet they did not try to stop the Persians, for it was their plan to not fight on land, but on sea
What was the plan Themistocles came up with before the Battle of Salamis
Themistocles, leader of the Greek navy, came up with a plan. Between Athens and Salamis was a narrow strait, which the whole Persian fleet could not enter at once. If the Greeks fleet waited near one end, to lure the Persian ships into the channel, then they would have to fight only a few Persian ships at a time. The Persians took the bait, and rowed into the treacherous strait, thinking they were moving in for the kill. Instead they found a well-trained navy waiting. Athenian triremes went forward and attacked
How did the Athenian rowers fight during the Battle of Salamis
The Athenian rowers battled with the ferocity of men defending their city, as indeed they were
In the Battle of Salamis, how many ships did the Persians lose
More than 200 ships
What did Xerxes do during the Battle of Salamis
During the Battle of Salamis, Xerxes, sure of victory, say on a throne atop a cliff, so he could watch his ships destroy the Greeks
How did the Greeks and Persians compare during the Battle of Salamis
Most of the Persians were foot soldiers unaccustomed to fighting at sea. The Persian rowers had to be whipped into battle. Worst of all, the Persians found themselves in strange waters. The Greek son the other hand, were good sailors and knew the water of the Salamis well
What did Xerxes do on his throne on the hilltop when he saw his army was getting destroyed by the Greeks
A horrified Xerxes watched his vessels sinking into the sea, proving the mighty Persians were no match for the little Greek city-states and the powerful Athenian Navy. Xerxes escaped with his men, and within a year he returned home. The Persian Wars eventually came to an end
What did Greek poets, artists, and statesmen do in commemoration to the Persian Wars
They recounted again and again the stories of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis. They would never forget that brave men had laid down their lives to keep Hellas free from a grasping foreign empire
When did the most intense fighting of the Persian Wars occur
The most intense fighting came in the decade from 490 B.C — 480 B.C, when the Persians launched invasions on the Greek mainland
What are the Persian Wars sometimes called
The Greco-Persian Wars
How long did the Persian Wars last
449 B.C — 499 B.C
