Persian Wars (Greek 1.1) Flashcards
Who was Herodotus?
- Written during the 3rd quarter of the 5th Century; probably published in full in the early 420s
- Born in the 480s
- In Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, a Greek city which at the time was under Persian control
- Lived in Athens for part of his life
- Perhaps in the early 440s and then again in the late 430s
- Herodotus used various sources such as:
o Literary
o Epigraphic
o Archaeological
o Oral (scholars argue this was the main source of his knowledge) - Important to realise how these stories can have changed and been embellished
- All accounts will have their own bias and agenda to promote
- Herodotus says this himself in:
o 2.99
o 2.123
o 7.152
“My business is to record what people say, but I am by no means bound to believe it – and that may be taken to apply to this book as a whole” - He is simply reporting a story
- Sometimes he writes down contradicting stories and states his own preference, at others, he says nothing
- Proven not to be that reliable as:
o Archaeological research shows it to be unreliable
o Understanding of what constitutes history has evolved
Darius policy towards the Greeks
- Greek cities under persian control since 546
- Darius came to power in 522
- Increased Persian expansion into the Aegean
- Policy of towns he controlled was to work with the people (Artaphernes - provincial satrap put in to stabalise region - then Mardonius)
Mardonius campaign in 492
o Herodotus says initially it was attacking and punishing Eretria and Athens
o Both Eretria and Athens had sent ships to assist the Ionian revolt in its earlier days
o However, both were situated further south than this invasion
o Herodotus’ comment on this in Histories 6.44
“At any rate, these two places were the professed object of the expedition, though in fact the Persians intended to subjugate as many Greek towns as possible”
o Herodotus presents the expedition as a failure, after the fleet was wrecked off Mount Athos
o However, they did capture the wealthy island of Thasos
In 491, who was sent out and what did they do?
Heralds
o Giving earth and water was the symbolic way in accepting Persian control
o Not necessarily meant that the state automatically became part of the Persian empire but instead could be called upon by the Persians
o Any cities that accepted Persian rule became Medise states
o Many cities on the Greek mainland and all the islands gave Earth and water in 491
o Aegina, a powerful trading island in Saronic Gulf, who was at war with Athens during this time, medized
o Athens and Sparta’s response not mentioned in Herodotus at this time
What was later revealed about Athens in terms of its actions to the Heralds?
Herodotus says:
o “To Athens and Sparta Xerxes sent no demand for submission because of what happened to the messagers whom Darius had sent on previous occasion: at Athens they were thrown into a pit like criminals, at Sparta they were pushed into a well” – Herodotus, Histories 7.133
Why did Athens hate Persia?
o In 510, the city had expelled its tyrant, Hippias, and established a democratic model instead, he had gone over to Persia and urged them to attack Athens in hope of placing him in power
o Members of Hippias’ aristocratic clan, the Pisistratids were still living in Athens and therefore felt nervous about the return to tyranny
Motivation for Sparta?
o Saw itself as leader of the Peloponnese and didn’t want anybody to challenge this status
Persian Policy
o A possible insight into Persian policy can be found at Naqs-e Rustam, about 6km north of Persepolis, the great royal city built by Darius
o Burial site of four Persian kings, including Darius and Xerxes
o No historians on Persian side
o No royal inscriptions make any mention of a military campaign in the Greek world, only mention is the Greeks as subject people of the Empire
o Inscriptions give us an insight into how Darius wished to be perceived as king
One who wishes to protect the weak from the strong
He also wanted to identify himself as he ideal Persian warrior – he is skilled on horseback and with the bow
Motives for Battle of Marathon
Revenge
Imperial expansion
According to Herodotus
What was the first target of the Invasion of 480-479
Naxos
What did they burn down
Temples
in response to the Greek burning temples
Herodotus’ account
o Important information about the inner relationship between the Greeks and Persians in 490
o On the Greek side, the Greeks were assisted by soldiers from Platea, a city in the region of Boeotia to the north of Attica
o Largest city in Boeotia was Thebes, most cities in the region were joining under a Theban alliance
o However, Platea was enemies with Thebes so sided with Athens
o They originally asked for an alliance with Sparta
o However, the scheming king of Sparta (Cleomenes) told them to ally with Athens
Hoping to turn Athens against Thebes to weaken their power
His plan was successful (6.108)
Who gave the Persians the advice to attack at Marathon
Hippias
What was their plan after Marathon?
- After the battle, the Persian fleet sailed round to the tip of Attica to attack Athens directly from the West
- Persians gave up when they saw that the Athenians had already returned
- Persians clearly hoped that medizing Greeks would help them in their campign
Athens response
- During Militades’ speech to the other generals at (6.109)
o The reason for battle was political and not military
o “If we refuse to fight, I have little doubt that the result will be bitter dissension; our purpose will be shaken and we shall submit to Persia”
o – Herodutus Histories 6.109 - Such fears about treachery among the Greeks seem to be validated by Herodotus’ tale of the ‘shield signal’ given to the Persians after the battle (6.121 – 124)
