Key Individuals Flashcards
Who was Herodotus?
- A Greek historian from Hallicarnassus
- Wrote “The Histories” in 440-20BCE
- Main source of ancient history within Greece
How did Herodotus get his information?
- Oral retellings from descendants or possible survivours
- Visited a lot of archaeological sites
What were the downsides of using Herodotus as a source?
Known to exaggerate certain events
Does not credit his sources
Faulty memory
Not a tactician - wrote about battles
What were the positives of using Herodotus as a source?
First-hand experience
Generally reliable on principle events
Background in Persian history and culture
Who was Aristogoras?
Tyrant of Miletus
Kickstarted the Ionian Revolt in 499 BCE
Who was Artaphernes?
Satrap of Sardis
Brother to Darius the First
Who was Darius the First?
The Persian King from 522 BCE to 486 BCE
Ordered the expeditions of 492/490
Particularly vengeful towards Athens and Eretria due to their involvement in Ionian Revolt
Who was Mardonius?
Persian General in charge of the 492 BCE expedition to invade Greece (relived of duty afterwards)
Darius’ son-in-law
Biggest advocate for invading Greece during Persian court
Was also in charge of the Persian army in the Battle of Platea in 479 BCE and was killed
Who was Datis?
Persian General in charge of the 490 BCE expedition to invade Greece
Who was Militades?
Athenian General who had insider knowledge on the tactics of the Persians
Who was Hippias?
Former tyrant of Athens
From the Peisistratids family
Assisted in the Persian Invasion of 490 BCE
Who was Pheidippides?
Athenian Herald who ran from Marathon to Athens to inform them of the victory at the Battle of Marathon
Also ran to Sparta from Athens in 2 days to request help for Persian Invasion
Inspired the modern Olympic ‘marathon’
Who was Callimachus?
Athenian Polemarch
Made the decision to stay at Marathon
Slain in the Battle of Marathon
Who was Leonidas?
Spartan King
Supposed ancestry of Heracles
Fought at Thermopylae in 480
Slain at Thermopylae
Who was Xerxes?
Persian King from 486 to 465 BCE
Achieved victories at Thermopylae and Artemisium
Fled with his army after Salamis