Study Guide 4 Flashcards
Cyrus the Great
created Persian Empire; easygoing → let people be free (freedom of religion) as long as they paid tribute
satraphs
city governed by a local governor in the Persian Empire set in place by Cyrus to keep the peace
ostracize
- When the Greeks voted to kick out a dislike politician from Athens for 10 years
demes
root of democracy, rule by the people → Persian word for people
Sardis
Lydian city burned during Ionian revolt, 500 BC
hoplites
heavily armed infaltry
hoplon
shield → argive grip, different paintings on each of them, wood → bronze, 3 ft. in diameter, 20 lbs
dory
spear on hoplite armor
lamoleer
Greek chest/breastplate (linen, bronze, leather)
Marathon
instigated by Darius in revenge for Sardis/Ionian revolt, 490 BC
Darius
king who engaged Battle of Marathon (1st invasion of Greece)
Xerxes
son of Darius, Persian king who led the second invasion of Greece (Thermopylae)
Themistocles
Athenian statesmen and general from Marathon who championed the defense of the sea in the subsequent wars
Leonides
Spartan king leading the ground defense at Thermopylae
pontoon bridge
bridge of ships across the Hellespont hooked together so the army could walk across → told Greek spy technology was much more advanced
Thermopylae
spy told them Persians were coming so set up defense at Thermopylae and Isthmus of Corinth, 480 BC
Phocia
Greek city-state that was supposed to guard the pass but then left because they got scared and decided to guard their families back at home instead
Dinices/Dionikes
Spartan lieutenant who gained fame by his reply to the Persian messenger and then tried to protect the body of the fallen Spartan king, Leonides
nike
means “victory”/what soldier yelled after running from Marathon
the Immortals
silent, masked men who replaced one another immediately after one dies
Isthmus of Corinth
the place where the Greeks regrouped after Thermopylae
Strait of Salamis
victory over Persian army/ turning point of war, 480 BC
Plataea
victory over Persians on Greek mainland, 479 BC
Mycale
victory over Persians in Asia Minor/last battle of Persian War because Ionians betrayed Persia to Greeks, 479 BC
Milesians
Ionians that turned over Persians to Greeks in last battle of Persian War
trireme
Greek naval ship
phalanx
a rectangular formation of soldiers, 8 ranks deep
Hellenic League
alliance of some city-states in Greece; Athens and Sparta continuously fought for leader position
Delian League
alliance of Attica → Athens = leader, formed 477 BC
Pelopennesian League
Laconia → Sparta = leader, formed 477 BC
Pausanias
supreme commander of the Hellenic League forces → victor at Battle of Plataea/Ionians claimed he was a tyrant and working for Xerxes which was all true
Mardonius
Xerxes’ son in law → defeated at Plataea
Xanthippius
native general and commander of Athenian forces who took supreme control of Ionia when Pausanias was convicted then refused to let it go
Pericles
son of Xanthippius; elected to military commander
Lysander of Sparta
killed Alcibiades
Artaxerxes
told to avenge his father, Xerxes, by Artabanos who actually killed Xerxes. He then figures this out and kills Artabanos. He is left as heir.
Esther
became wife of Xerxes after he became very indulgent (told other wife to come out naked in front of drunk men)
500 BC
Burning of Sardis
490 BC
Marathon
480 BC
Thermopylae and Salamis
479 BC
Battles of Plataea and Mycale
477 BC
Delian and Spartan Leagues formed and skirmishes between them
435 BC
official beginning of Peloponnesian War
What was tragic about the way Cyrus died?
He died in an unnecessary battle in the middle of nowhere when Queen Tomyris of Massagetae said she would quench his thrist for blood, and she did when he died. She took his head, put the blood in a wineskin, and drank it.
What did Darius change about the Persian Army?
mercenaries and others were turned into professional soldiers → smaller but better fed, trained, and loyal (10,000 foot soldiers and 18,000 cavalry)
Describe the Battle of Marathon.
The Persian army runs onto the beach and pushes the Athenian front lines back. The edges of their flanks then surround the army which then retreats. As they are retreating, the Athenians cut off the hands of those trying to get back on and away on the ships.
Prior to the later battles, what did the Oracle of Delphi predict for the Spartans? For the Athenians?
Spartans: Sparta will fall or mourn the loss of a king. Athenians: Flee to the wooden walls provided by Zeus.
Why did Darius want to strike at Athens?
He wanted revenge for Sardis/Ionian revolt.
What famous Athenian landmark was built to celebrate the victory over the Persians?
Parthenon
What present day events recall the way news of “Nike!” was transmitted to Athens from the battlefield? What is usually not mentioned about this message?
The runner came from the battle of Marathon hence the name marathon for the distance he ran to Athens: 26.2 miles. Not mentioned: he died.
Most Athenians became complacent about the victory at Marathon. What Greek general and statesmen did not? Why? What did he want to do to prepare for another Persian attack? How was he finally successful?
Themistocles because he knew the Persians would come back and seek revenge with a strong naval and land army so he wanted to strengthen their navy. A silver mine was discovered. He wanted to use this money for the navy, but the other politicians disagreed that there would be another attack, so Themistocles lied to them to be afraid of another city-state so he got his advancement on his army.
What were two possible reasons for Leonides committing Spartans to defend Athens from Persia?
- Sparta will disappear if not defended.
2. King from the lineage of Heracles has to die.
Why was the selection of the battle field so extremely effective for the Greeks? Is this strategic thinking still employed?
The narrow passes helped the Greeks held off the Persians because only a few people could fight at one time. ex) Switzerland (narrow passes)
What was the message from Xerxes to the Spartans? What was the famous response by Dioneces, Leonides’ lieutenant recorded by Herodotus?
1) “Surrender or our arrows will block out the sun.”
2) “Then we will fight in the shade”
Briefly describe the events of Day 1 of the battle on land and on sea.
- arrow launch by Persians (little damage)
- Persian charge
- Greeks hold their lines under the pressure with their shields then turn to the offense where they use their spears for a slaughter.
- The Persians fall back because they cannot use cavalry and are disorganized.
- Navy attack by the Greeks begins in the afternoon so that they can leave a quick but noticeable dent in the Persian navy by nightfall. They are outnumbered 6-1.
Describe Day 2. Who were the Immortals? Why were they called this?
- Same as day 1 except the Persians use the Immortals and the navy is only outnumbered 5-1. They are silent, masked men. They are called this because they immediately replaced by one another if one of them died.
What happened to 200 ships of the Persian fleet which had sailed around Euboea? How did the Persians and Greeks interpret this omen?
They were sunk in a storm. Persians: lightning highlighted the dead and the wreckage = disheartening.
Greeks: encouraging, represents good future (from Zeus and Poseidon)
What practical reason did Xerxes have to want a quick win?
running out of supplies
What happened sometime during the second day that helped Xerxes formulate a winning strategy against the Greek front?
a spy alerted Xerxes that there was a pass through the mountains to get behind the Greeks
What happened to expose Leonides’ forces, despite his pre-planned rear defense?
the Phocians retreated back to Phocia because they were scared and they wanted to protect their families.
After most of the other Greek forces were sent away in small groups to regroup at the Isthmus of Corinth to defend the Peloponnese (and Sparta), what city state’s soldiers remained to help the Spartans?
Thesbia
What happened to the body of Leonides?
The Greeks fought hard for it, but eventually Xerxes ordered his head to be cut off and put on a stake when he walked on the battlefield after the struggle.
While the Greeks at Thermopylae fought, what did Themistocles do?
He sailed back to Athens to evacuate it.
The Delphi oracle had instructed the Athenians to flee to the wooden walls provided by Zeus. In what two ways was this followed?
- stay in Athens on the acropolis
2. got on ships to travel somewhere else
By the time Xerxes reached Athens, what revenge did he exact? Was this on a large scale?
He burned Athens on a large scale.
After Thermopylae and Athens fell, where did the Greeks regroup?
Isthmus of Corinth where they planned attack at Strait of Salamis.
How did they finally drive out the Persians?
they lured them to Salamis where they heavily damaged their navy. The Greeks drove them back to Asia where they burned the pontoon bridge. Battles in Plataea and Mycale.
What rash actions by Xerxes doomed the Persians after Salamis?
He was bored and tired from all the fighting. He became very indulgent.
Why did Sparta want to abandon the Ionian colonies? What changed their minds?
They didn’t want to stand guard over Ionia forever. Under influence from Athens, Sparta stayed because they didn’t want Athens to become the leader of the Hellenic League.
What action by the Athenians in the Greek homeland provoked the Spartans toward war?
The rebuilding of Athens because Sparta wanted to be the leader of Greece
What role did Themistocles play in resolving this issue?
He traveled to Sparta as slowly as possible so that the walls were rebuilt to minimum height when he met the negotiating party.
Ironically, where did Themistocles spend his last days and why?
Persian court → ostracized from Athens
What happened to Themistocles in later life?
He rebuilt Athens and enhanced its security by burning ships of other cities and demanding/gathering money from islands. He is then ostracized because of this. He is accused of having Persian ties, so an assassin is sent after him, but Themistocles eludes him until he reached the Persian court. They want him as an advisor on Greek affairs. He says he’ll be one if they pay the price on his head. Themistocles never told any Greek secrets, just Greek culture, etc. He died at 65 from illness or poison.
What happened to the Spartan hero, Pausanias?
He was put on trial after rumors in Ionia said he was working with Xerxes.He was acquitted but then he was put at risk of another trial. He took sanctuary in a temple. But he was locked up and starved to death there.
What were the Long Walls?
Walls that extended down from Athens to the port of Pireus so they could get water with no fear of being attacked. 8 miles long. suggested by Pericles.
How long did the Thirty Years Peace actually last?
14 years
Who did Alcibiades betray and how?
- betrays Athens to Sparta when he convinces to them to go to Egesta’s aid against Syracuse on Sicily. He then see that they will lose hence he lets Sparta know they’re coming. 8 years of fighting follows. broke Thirty years peace
- Sparta: commits adultery with Spartan queen against Agis, Spartan king
- Persia: runs back to Athens with stolen gold
- Athens again then flees to Phrygia
What role did the Persians play in bringing the war to an end? Why is this ironic?
They funded and fought with Sparta especially their naval fleet. This is ironic because they fought against Sparta and won at Thermopylae.
The shield, helmet, and curiass were made of what kind of metal?
bronze
The sword and spear tips and ends were made of what king of metal?
iron
How did Themistocles convince the Athenians to build additional ships?
He said that another city-state, besides Persia, was threatening Athens’ safety.
How was this use put into defense during the Persian Wars?
Ramming was used to hold off the Persians from the Artemesium Strait when they were outnumbered 6 to 1.
What was its success at Thermopylae?
The triremes overpowered most of the Persian ships even though they were outnumbered 6 to 1.
How did it fulfill the Oracles’s words to Athens?
The soldiers in the triremes had to go back and hide behind the wooden walls.
xiphos
made of iron, double edged, only used if phalanx broken and/or spear (dory) broken
