The Reign of Darius the Great Flashcards
When did Darius become king?
522 BC
Does Herodotus give much mention of the revolts after Darius’ ascension
No. He mentions a revolt in Babylon, but when it happened is uncertain
Where was the first revolt of Darius reign
Bisitun Inscription
Elam and Babylonia
What backs up Darius’ claim of a revolt in Babylon
Babylonian tablets
When did the revolt break out in Babylon
October 522
Who led the Babylonian revolt
Nidintu-Bel
Nidintu-Bel
Leader of the Babylonian revolt
Claimed to be a son of Nabonidus
Captured and killed
How many battles were part of the Babylonian revolt
2
When did Darius defeat the Babylonian rebels
December 522
Arakha
Leader of the second Babylonian revolt
Claimed to be a son of Nabonidus
What happened to the second Babylonian revolt
Put down by Intaphernes in November 521
What are the rebellios regions listed on the Bisitun Inscription
(9)
- Persia
- Elam
- Media
- Assyria
- Egypt
- Parthia
- Margiana
- Sattagydia
- Saka of Central Asia
Some of the rebels that had gruesome fates
Niduntu-Bel was impaled along with 49 of his supporters
Phraortes had his nose, ears, and tonge removed, and one of his eyes. After being displayed he was impaled
Phraortes
Rebel leader in Media
How many battles were fought in the rebellions against Darius in a single year
19
why were two other kings added to the line of defeated leaders on the Bisitun Inscription
They were foreign enemies added after they had been defeated, in 520 or 519
What are the kings on the Bisitun Inscription described as
Liars
They claimed to be sons of Kings such as Cyrus or Nabonidus
Why might the empire have so many rebellions when Darius came to power
The instability in Persian rule gave people hope of regaining freedom
Possible that many states felt a grievance to the way Darius seized power
What does Herodotus claim Smerdis did that would have made him popular
He ended tribute and military levies for three years
What does Darius call himself king of?
Persia
What did Cyrus and Cambyses call themselve kings of
Anshan
How many countries did Darius rule
Bisitun Inscription
23
Achaemenes
Supposed founder of the Persian royal family
Atossa and Artystone
Daughters of Cyrus
Married to Darius
How does Darius present himself as heir to Cyrus
- Links himself through a royal genealogy
- Cyrus is not mentioned, but they share an ancestor
- Darius also created Achaemenes who he claims is the founder of the Achmaemenid royal dynasty. He is linked to Cyrus and Darius
Were Cyrus and Darius related?
Darius claims they are
There is no evidence
Darius’ claimed ancestry
Achaemenes
Teispes
Ariaramnes
Arsames
Hystapes
Darius
Teispes
mentioned on the Cyrus Cylinder as an ancestor of Cyrus
Darius claims he is a ancestor of Darius
Ahuramazda
Sky god, creator god
Elevated greatly by Darius
Appears 63 times in Bisitun Inscription
Granted Darius kingship and effectively made him proxy on earth
How are the other gods referred to in the Bisitun Inscription
How many times
‘the other gods who exist’
mentioned once
arta
the Persian concept of truth
drauga
the Persian conept of lying or ‘the lie’
What is Darius’ policy toward his people
treat the loyal well
punish severly the disloyal
what does Darius present the liar-kings as rebelling against
Persian rule and Ahuramazda
Who accompanied Darius everywhere
Magi
How many stratpies was Persia divided into by Darius
20
Satrapy
one of the 20 provinces of the empire
Satrap
- the provincial governor of a satrapy
- often one of the king’s relatives
- appointed or removed at the king’s pleasure
- monitered by officials
- collected taxes
- provided troops
What were the officials who monitered the satraps called
‘the king’s scribes’
‘the king’s ears’
‘the king’s eyes’
what happened to the taxes that the satraps collected
most went to the king
some was designated for use in the satrapy for civil administration such as maintaining local roads
Who described Darius’ governmental reforms
Herodotus
where was the empire administrated from
- Susa
- Ectabana
- Parsagadae
- Persepolis
what are the collections of cuniform texts that we get an insight into the workings of the imperial administration from
Fortification Tablets
Treasury Tablets
How many Fortification Tablets are there from 509 to 494
thousands
How many Treasury Tablets are there dated from 492 to 458
129
What do Fortification Tablets document
the storage and distribution of foodstuffs to groups including:
Royalty, priests, officials, and cattle
What do Treasury Tablets document
rations given to craftstem who worked on the buildings of Persepolis
Describe the road system
arteries of the empire
set up with stations and inns
imperial messenger service used a relay sytem with riders and horses waiting at designated stations to take a message on to the next post
List Darius’ building projects
Rebuilt Susa
Built Parsa (Greek: Perseoplis)
50 mile canal in Egypt which joined the Nile to the Red Sea
New irrigation systems in Egypt
Yuana
Persian name for the Greeks
Three levelled mounds which Susa was rebuilt on
Apadana Mound
Royal City mound
Acropolis
Features of the rebuilt Susa
covered 250 acres
surrounded by a huge mud-brick retaining wall
built on three levelled mounds
Gate of Darius
apadana
Foundation Charter inscription
Gate of Darius
entry to the Apadana Mound
12-13 metres high
apadana at Susa
Great columned audience hall covering about 18 square metres and 20 metres tall
Glazed brick murals
Depiction of life-sized Persian soldiers standing with spears and bows
Foundation Charter
Darius sets out his claim to be king under Ahuramazda
Presents himself as king of all peoples of his empire, and so lists all the countries that provided materials for Susa
Features of Persepolis/Parsa
Royal presence under Cyrus or Cambyses
Small settlement 25 miles from Parsagadae
Constuction began in 518
12 metres high terrace that covered 34 acres, with an apadana on the western end.
Apadana at Parsa
Raised 3 m
60 m long
reached by two zigzagging stairsways, each decorated with depictions of 23 nations bringing tribute to the king who is enthroned and has nobles nearby
Each nation is identified by its national dress, each leader is led by the hand of a Persian official
each nation is separated by a cypress tree
No sense of hierachy, the nations are all standing, and some carry weapons. Suggests they are willing partners of the empire
apadana
great audience hall in a Persian Royal Palace
what did Darius build in the satrapies
buildings and transport links
Features of the canal linking Nile to Red Sea
50 miles long
originally begun by an Egyptian Pharaoh
completed by Darius
Claims credit on an inscription set up by the canal
Reason for new irrigation systems in Egypt
so the crops were grown more productively
Who does Herodotus have persuade Darius to send a reconaissance mission to the Mediterrranean
Atossa, Darius’ wife
What reasons does Atossa give for an expedition to the Mediterranean
Show his nobles that he is a man and capable of war
Keep the nobles busy so they cannot plot to overthrow him
Democedes
a Greek doctor in the Parsian Court.
Healed Atossa of an abscess
Wanted Darius to send an expedition to the Mediterranean so he could escape Persia
Croton
Greek city in southern Italy
Democedes hoped to escape to there
Who did Atossa suggest should lead the reconaissance mission
Persian nobles
What were some of the real reasons Darius would have wanted to go to war
To prove he was as good as Cyrus and Cambyses
To stop the nobles conspiring
To keep his troops occupied
Population of the Persian empire
How many were Persian
around 25 million
around 1 million were Persian
Artaphernes
Darius’ half brother
Satrap of Sardis
First territory brought into the Persian empire by Darius
Samos (c.517)
By 513 which two Aegean islands were fighting for Darius and so prosumably incorporated into the empire
Lesbos and Chios
Scylax
Greek from the city of Caryanda in Caria
Sent by Darius to explore the Indus valley
Who is our source on the conquest of the Indus Valley
Herodotus
Which source does not mention the Indus Valley on its list of conquered lands
Bisitun Inscription
Year of Darius’ attack on Thrace and Scythia
513
At around 500 what were Indians employed as in the Persepolis bureaucracy
Scribes
Bosphorus
narrow body of water linking Europe to Asia
Size of the invasion force sent to Thrace and Scythia according to Herodotus
over 700,000
600 ships
probably exaggerated
How did Darius cross the Bosphorus
They bridged it with rafts and boats tied together
Ister
River in Thrace
Now known as the Danube
Bridged by the Persians
Where were Darius’ Greek forces drawn from
Hellespont
Propontis
Ionia
Aeolis
Darius’ march through Thrace to Scythia
Bridged the Bosphorus
Marched through Thrace to the River Ister
Bridged the river and left the Ionian troops to guard the bridge
Marched into Scythia
Outline the Scythian expedition
The Scythians avoided battle by moving around and splitting up as much as possible
Persians tried to ravage the pastures, but the Scythians were skilled mounted archers and had success against Persian foraging parties
The Scythians drew the persians into distant, barren, territory by planting cattle as bait
After several months the campaign was close to disaster and Darius decided to retreat to the Ister, but got lost in doing so
Sycthians
- Nomadic tribes
- Some were cannibals, scalpers, and head hunters
- Fascinated Herodouts
Miltiades
Athenian acting as tyrant in the Chersonese
Later returned to Athens and played a key role in the Athenian victory of Marathon
Miltiades dates
c. 555-489
Histiaeus
Tyrant of Miletus and firm supporter of Persian rule
Later moved to Presia to act as an advisor to Darius on Greek affairs
Histiaeus death date
495
What did the Scythians ask the Ionians to do
To cut down the bridge over the Ister and desert
What was the Ionian response to the Scythian request
- Herodotus
- Miltiades initially argues they should take their advice
- Histiaeus points out that each tyrant owes his position to Darius and would be overthrown if they rebelled(Herodotus)
- In the end they decided to stay with Persia, and Darius managed to get back safely
What does the arguement between Miltiades and Histiaeus suggest
That the Greeks perceived the tyrants of Greek cities in Persia to be reliant on their Persian masters
Democratic ideas were beginning to spread
Who was the Persian commander left to complete the conquest of Thrace
Megabazus
What did Megabazus do?
Successfully conquered every city in Thrace
What year was Megabazus commanded to conquer Thrace
513BC
What does Herodotus do with the Thracian expedition
Seems to downplay it
How does Herodotus present the conquest of Thrace and the expedition to Scythia
as a disaster
Earth and water
symbolic tokens of submission given to the Persians by peoples accepting Persian rule
Potidaea
A Greek city in Thrace
Macedonian submission to Persia
Macedonians submitted when the Persians demanded earth and water, but the kingdom only seems to have been fully incorporated in 492
Otanes
Commander of the Asiatic coastal region
Brought Lemnos and Imbros into the Persian Empire at about the same time as Thrace
Skudra
Persian name for Thracians
Evidence the expedition to Thrace was in fact significant
Skudra appear on a number of empire lists
Thrace was rich in gold, silver, and timber
Gave control of the entrance to the Black Sea
Expedition to Scythia made sure the Scythians would respect the Ister as the boarder and not invade the newly established Persian territory
What lands gave Persia control of the route from the Aegean to the Black Sea
Control of the Aegean coastline and the islands of Lemnos and Imbros
Ionian Revolt
A revolt of Asiatic Greeks against Persian rule. It broke out in Ionia in 499 and lasted until 494
Aristagoras
Nephew of Histiaeus and acting tyrant of Miletus who fell out with the Persians and incitedthe Ionian cities to revolt
Aristagors’ death date
496BC
Where do the surviving accounts of the Ionian revolt come from
Herodotus
Why was Aristagoras acting tyrant of Miletus
His uncle Histiaeus had been called to Susa to become an advisor to Darius on Greek affairs
Why did Aristagoras fall out with Persia
Herodotus
Aristagoras persuaded Artaphernes and Darius to launch an invasion on Naxos
The campaign ended in failiur
Aristagors argued with the Persian commander megabates and sensed he was likely to lose Persian support
He made a political U-turn and laid down his tyranny, inciting the Miletus and the other Ionian cities to revolt
Naxos
Main island of the Cyclades
Aristagoras tried to conquer it
Conquered in 490 during invasion of Greece
Artaphernes
Satrap
Convinced to invade Naxos, but it was unsuccessful
Why did Aristagoras give up his tyranny
He did not want to lose his influential position and knew rebelling would keep him somewhat in control
Why did Aristagoras want to invade Naxos
It would potentially enrich him and his power would grow
What side of Aristagoras do we see in his invasion of Naxos
The sort of Greek tyrant who looked to work with Persia for mutual benefit
What was the cities’ reaction to Aristagoras’ rebellion
They readily joined in, ridding themselves of tyranny and setting up a form of democracy
What did Aristagoras do after he had incited the rebellion
Travelled to mainland Greece to seek help
What did the mainland Greeks do for Aristagoras
The Spartans were unwilling to send troops so far afield
The Athenians let him speak in front of the democratic assembly, which voted to send 20 ships
What does Herodotus say about the 20 ships Athens sent to aid the revolt in Ionia
Quote
“These ships were the beginning of evils for Greeks and barbarians”
Believes they were the cause of the subsequent Greco-Persian wars
Why were the Athenians already effectively in conflict with Persia before they sent the 20 ships
508/507, The Spartans had tried to install a more Spartan leading government into the newly democratic Athens, and the Athenians had asked Artaphernes for an alliance.
The ambassadors gave Persia earth and water, but were harshly criticised on their return – perhaps because the Spartan threat had subsided
By 501, Hipias was with Persia and trying to get them to reinstate him as tyrant
The Persians told the Athenians who had been sent to tell the Persians to ignore him to accept him, but they refused, and chose open hostility instead
By when had Hippias defected to Persia
501 BC
When did the Athenians overthrow Hippias
510BC
Another city that sent ships to help the Ionian Revolt
City of Eretia on island of Euboea: 5
Cybebe
Major Lydian goddess
First assualt of the Ionian revolt
Greek allies successfully attack Sardis
Burn it to the ground
Among buildings destroyed with temple of Cybebe, which became a focal point of Persian rage and indignation for years
In the aftermath, the Greek forces headed back ot the coast, but wree easily defeated near Epheus by Persian cavalry
Athenians withrew their ships
Revolt on Cyprus
Persians made it a top priority target
Ionians sent a fleet and managed to defeat the Persians
The rebel Cypriots lost the land battle and the Persians recaptured a number of cities in a series of sieges – evidence found at Old Paphos
Why was Cyrpus a key target for Persian recapture
It was a key naval base in the Eastern Mediteranean
Persian recapture of mainland Ionia
Darius’ sons in law
Three armies, each under the command of a son-in-law of Darius sent out
Largely successful
Only one major rebel victory
The three sons-in-laws of Darius sent out to Ionia
Dauries, Hymaeës, Otanes
Fates of the three sons-in-laws of Darius sent out to Ionia
- Daurises was killed in fighting
- Hymaeës died of a disease
- Otanes survived
Notable rebel victory against Daurises
Caria, a non-Greek region that had joined the revolt
After being defeated in battle, the Carians ambushed Persian forces led by Daurises, who was killed in the fighting
Aristagoras’ fate
Departed in about 496, moving to Thrace where he was soon killed
What happened immediately after Aristagoras left the war
Histiaeus pursuaded Darius to send him back to resolve matters
As soon as he arrived on the Aegean coast he switched sides and supported the revolt
Stalemate ensued
What happened eventually to the stalemate between Darius and Histiaeus
In 494, a final showdown took place in a naval battle off the island of Lade near Miletus
Persian preparation for the naval battle off Lade
- Tried to bribe the Ionian fleets not to fight
- Datiya is recorded on a fortification tablet to have requested 70 quarts of bear rations in January of Febuary 494. He was travelling to the king at Persepolis
Datiya
High ranking official
Possibly ‘Datis the Mede’ who Herodotus says jointly led the invasion of Greece in 490.
Fortification tablet:
Travelled from Sardis to Persepolis in Jan/Feb 494, requesting a large ration of bear, 70 quarts – approx 70 litres–, as rations
Possibly reporting back to Darius on the preparations for the final push
Naval battle off Lade
Persians have 600 (Herodotus’ formulaic number for their fleets)
Greeks have 353 (more accurate)
Persians had bribed some of the Greeks (including most of the Samian fleet). They deserted at the start of the battle and the Persians scored a decisive victory
Aftermath of naval battle off Lade
Whole region brought under control
Savage reprisals on Ionians
* Sacked Miletus
* Sacked religious sanctuary at Didyma
Mardonius
Died 497
Son of Gobryas
Senior Persian commander
Led an expedition to Greece in 493 and 492
A leading commander for the invasion of 480-479
Persian leniance after Ionian revolt
493,
Artaphernes introduced a system of artbitration of disputes between Ionian cities and made taxation system fairer
492
Mardonius introduced democratic systems
Persians as bringers of peace
Wanted to make subjects as stable as possible
- open minded about approach
Suggested that they saw themselves as a ‘golabal policeman’
- reflected in lines from an Inscription of Darius at Susa
- says Darius stopped coutnries fighting, and now the strong does not harm the weak
What does the aftermath of the Ionian revolt show us might have been the cause of the revolt
The Ionians wanted to be rid of their Persian-backed tyrants
Boundary disputes between cities due to Persians confiscating quality land
Herodouts’ reason for the Ionian revolt
the Ionians wanted freedom
Darius’ invasion of Greece, 492
Darius sends a fleet to north of mainland Greece
Led by Mardonius
Herodotus: initially to punish Athens and Eretria
Looks like an attempt to secure more territory
Herodouts: it was a total failiure, Persian fleet wrecked off Mount Athos in northern Aegean and Persians withdrew
Forced island of Thasos to submit soon after
Macedon formally incorporated into the empire
Events of 491
Darius sent heralds demanding each Greek city submit
Herodotus: all islands submit, most mainland states, Athens and Sparta decline
Breaking honour code:
* Athens: heralds thrown into a pit reserved for criminals
* Sparta: throw the heralds down a well
The states that did not submit looked down on those that did, and created a new word: to medise
Split in policy between pro and anti Persian Greeks
To Medise
New word describing act of submitting to Persians
Shows that Greeks often saw no difference between Persians and Medes
Persian invasion or Greece, 490
Only source is Greek, largely from Athen’s point of view
Datis and Artaphernes lead it
Hippias is a key advisor
Herodotus: fleet of 600
Naxos taken: temples burnt
Delos: inhabitants flee, Persians leave frankincensce offerings in the sanctuary
Ertria: sieged and temples burnt
Persians land at Marathon
After a few days, the Persians and Greeks meet in battle and the Greeks push the invaders off
Artaphernes (leader of invasion of Greece)
Son of Artaphernes, satrap in Sardis
Battle of Marathon date
490BC
Siege of Eretria
Captured with help of Eretrian traitors
Temples burnt: Herodouts clearly states this is for retribution for the burning of the temples in Sardis
Athenian leaders at Marathon
Miltiades leads nine other generals
Combatants at Marathon
Athenians, and Plataeans
Persians
Battle of Marathon
After several days, Persians and Greeks meet on the plain of Marathon
Greek Phalanx defeats Persian
Fighters of Greece win immortal glory
Herodotus:
* 192 Athenians die
* 6,400 Persians die
* Also is compressed and leaves out many details
Consequences of Marathon
Persians probably shaken
Unlikely it held as much significance as for the Greeks: Could have seen it as a minor engagement that did noth change the policy of westward expantion
Herodotus: Darius enraged and planned a much larger invasion force to conquer whole of Greece
Ctesias
Greek doctor living and working in the Persian court in the 4th century BC
Gives a flavour of Persian perspective of 490 campaign:
Datis devasted island and Greece, but defeated by Miltiades
Why did Darius not invade Greece a third time?
A revolt broke out in Egypt
He died
How long did Darius reign for
36 years
Darius’ dates in power
522-486
