Persia Flashcards
Key features of the battle of Pteria
- An inconclusive battle.
- Croesus realised he needed a larger army to defeat Cyrus
After the battle he disbanded his army and asked his allies for more troops.
- Croesus realised he needed a larger army to defeat Cyrus
Key features of the Siege of Sardis
- Cyrus used camels in the front line against Croesus’ superb cavalry since camels frighten horses.
- Sardis was in the heartland of Lydia at the foot of Mt Timolus so was considered impregnable as it was nestled into the rock face
Cyrus’ troops managed to climb the cliffs and attack the city where it was the least defended.
- Sardis was in the heartland of Lydia at the foot of Mt Timolus so was considered impregnable as it was nestled into the rock face
Key features of the battle of Babylon
Herodotus:
* The Babylonians were stuck inside the city, they had provisions for may years so didn’t care for siege.
* Cyrus’ men entered the city by the channel of the Euphrates running through the city.
The people in the middle of the city didn’t know Cyrus had entered the city due to its size and were dancing and merry at a festival.
Other sources:
* Cyrus entered the city without battle.
The Cyrus cylinder says that Cyrus was chosen by Marduk and was lead by him.
Key features of the Siege of Memphis
- Cambyses sent a Persian herald up the river but the Egyptians saw the ship and came out the city and killed the herald and smashed the ship. They took the parts of the body back with them.
- Cambyses besieged the city and they soon surrendered.
Both Libya and Cyrene surrendered after in fear.
- Cambyses besieged the city and they soon surrendered.
Key features of the Ionian revolt
- Temple of Cybebe in Sardis burnt down by Ionians in 498
- Battle of Ephesus - Persian cavalry defeated Ionian forces on the way back from the sack of Sardis.
- Lade - key naval battle where the Persians had a crushing victory due the Samians defecting.
Key features of the battle of Marathon
- Athenian victory due to the leadership of Miltiades as he stretched the centre to increase the width of the formation and outflank the Persians
- The Athenians had no horsemen or archers but managed to win on the flanks making their victory impressive
The Greeks were frightened by the Medes due to what they have achieved
- The Athenians had no horsemen or archers but managed to win on the flanks making their victory impressive
Key features of the battle of Thermopylae
- Natural choke point in Xerxes’ route towards Athens
- The Greek army was very small only 7000 and supposedly the Persians had 2.6 million men but it is very unlikely.
- The battle lasts for many days and the Persians can’t get through without heavy losses.
The Greeks are eventually betrayed by a local farmer.
Key features of the battle of Salamis
- The Peloponnesian commanders want to be near the army at the Isthmus.
- Athenians want to stay and defend Salamis as that is where their people are.
- The Persians lost cohesion in the narrow straight as it was too crowded so couldn’t fight effectively.
Crushing defeat for Persia.
Cyrus’ treatment of conquered peoples
Kept Astyages on his court
Set Croesus atop a pyre but let him go
Treated the people of Babylon well - supplied sacrifices, rebuilt the city and allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem
Cambyses’ treatment of conquered peoples
Herodotus:
humiliated Psammetichus but eventually let him go and he lived in Cambyses’ court
Killed the priests and Apis bull
Other sources:
worshipped the Apis bull
Cambyses adopted Eqgyptian religion and followed traditions
Darius’ treatment of conquered peoples
Darius killed the men and enslaved the women and children after the Ionian revolt
He commissioned the Apadana staircase at Persepolis depicting different peoples in his empire
He mutilated, crucified and impaled the Babylonian rebels
Key features of Pasargadae
- It was built in the Zagors Mountains between 546-530 BCE to celebrate his victory over the Medes.
- Key features:
- Private Palace - where Cyrus lived and it looks out onto the royal garden. It was made of white stone which shows his wealth as most buildings were made of mudbrick at the time
- Palace S - The first thing you see when you entered the city and had lions carved into the walls.
- Water channels around the city with a total length of 1 mile and supplied from the canal nearby.
- Cyrus’ tomb - rectangular plinth in steps; made of white limestone; on top is a shepherd’s hut showing how he comes from humble origins; his sarcophagus was made of gold showing how much wealth he has; Inscription that writes about who he is and what he’s done.
- Zendan - 12.5m tall tower used in coronations
- Tall-i-Takht - half built wall to fortify the city but was abandoned when Cyrus died.
Gate - Designed to impress, columns 16m high.
- Key features:
Key features of the Bisitun inscription
- It was carved into the side of Mt Behistun in the Zagros Mountains 100m between the royal capitals of Babylon and Ecbatana.
- Built in 520 BCE
It was built to advertise Darius’ rule and ideology.
- Built in 520 BCE
Key features of Susa
- 250 acres.
- Built in 519 BCE
- It was built on three levelled mounds.
- It had an Apadana which was a square shape of 18m^2 and 20m tall with 36 columns.
- It had typical Persian architecture e.g. Columns
- It had 4 courts with different uses like on was used as a military court and was the largest.
It had a large gate at the east side
Key features of Persepolis
- It was raised 12m above the ground and was 455m by 300m
- It had an Apadana which was supported by columns and was a giant audience hall.
- The Apadana staircase had a frieze depicting different peoples in Darius’ empire
- It had the palaces of Darius and Xerxes.
The treasury contained a number of cuneiform tablets called treasury tablets, which recorded transaction of goods and services.
