Unit 6: The Persian Wars, Athens, and Herodotus: Study Questions Flashcards
who solon
(c. 630–560 BCE) was an Athenian statesman who introduced major reforms, ending debt slavery, restructuring social classes, and creating the Council of 400, laying the groundwork for democracy.
who Pisistratus
(r. 561–527 BCE) was a tyrant who seized power through cunning tactics but ruled effectively, promoting economic growth, religious festivals, and infrastructure projects. His rule stabilized Athens but was not democratic.
who Cleithenes
(c. 570–508 BCE) is known as the “father of Athenian democracy.” He restructured Athens into ten tribes, created the Council of 500, and introduced ostracism to limit tyranny, expanding political participation.
Q: Summarize the major political, economic, and social reforms of Solon.
A: Solon (early 6th century BCE) ended debt slavery, restructured Athenian classes based on wealth, and created the Council of 400. His reforms balanced aristocratic and common interests, laying foundations for democracy.
Q: Summarize Pisistratus’ major policies and achievements.
A: Pisistratus, a tyrant of Athens (c. 560–527 BCE), promoted trade, infrastructure, and religious festivals. He strengthened the economy and unified Athens through patronage and public works.
Q: Why did the Pisistratus family eventually fail?
A: After Pisistratus’ death, his sons Hippias and Hipparchus ruled, but Hipparchus was assassinated, and Hippias became a harsh ruler. Athenian discontent and Spartan intervention led to their overthrow.
Q: Summarize the reforms under Cleisthenes.
A: Cleisthenes (c. 508 BCE) restructured Athens into ten tribes, created the Council of 500, and introduced ostracism. His reforms strengthened democracy and reduced aristocratic power.
Q: How did reformers help develop Attica’s economy, strengthening the polis?
A: Solon encouraged trade and olive oil exports, while Pisistratus supported public works and festivals. These policies created economic stability, boosting Athenian unity and power.
Q: How did Athenian and Spartan notions of citizenship compare?
A: Athens valued political participation, allowing male citizens to vote and hold office. Sparta emphasized military service and obedience, restricting citizenship to elite warriors.
Q: How did the Persian Empire grow, and what methods kept it together?
A: Persia expanded under Cyrus the Great (c. 550 BCE) through conquest and diplomacy. It maintained control through satrapies, a royal road system, and religious tolerance.
Q: Summarize Darius I’s invasion of Greece and Greek resistance.
A: Darius invaded Greece (490 BCE) to punish Athens for aiding the Ionian Revolt. The Greeks defeated his forces at Marathon, using superior tactics and hoplite warfare.
Q: Summarize Xerxes’ invasion and Greek resistance.
A: Xerxes invaded Greece (480 BCE) with a massive force. The Greeks resisted at Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea, using naval strategy and unity to defeat Persia.
Q: How did ancient Greeks interpret the Persian Wars, and how has this shaped historical views?
A: Greeks saw the wars as a clash between freedom and tyranny. This influenced later historians to view Persia as a vast but flawed empire.
Q: What effects did the Persian Wars have on Athens and Greek relations?
A: Athens gained power, leading the Delian League and becoming an imperial force. Tensions with Sparta grew, setting the stage for future conflicts.
Q: What advantage helped Athens become the “saviours of Greece”?
A: Athens had a powerful navy and strategic leadership under Themistocles, which proved decisive at Salamis.
Q: How did Themistocles interpret the Oracle’s “wall of wood” prophecy?
A: He claimed it referred to Athens’ navy, convincing the Athenians to abandon the city and focus on naval warfare at Salamis.
Q: How does Herodotus depict Greek heroism?
A: He emphasizes sacrifice, cunning, and unity, portraying figures like Leonidas and Themistocles as champions of Greek freedom.
Q: How does Herodotus portray Xerxes’ wrath?
A: Xerxes is shown as arrogant and vengeful, punishing the Hellespont and disregarding wise counsel.
Q: How did the Persians win at Thermopylae?
A: A Greek traitor, Ephialtes, revealed a secret pass, allowing the Persians to surround and defeat Leonidas’ forces.
Q: Where is Salamis, and why did the Greek fleet assemble there?
A: Salamis is an island near Athens. The Greeks lured the Persians into the narrow straits, favoring their smaller, more maneuverable ships.
Q: How did the Greeks defeat the Persian fleet?
A: Themistocles tricked Xerxes into attacking in the straits of Salamis, where Persian numbers were a disadvantage. Greek triremes outmaneuvered and crushed the Persian fleet.
Q: Why did Xerxes retreat after Salamis?
A: Losing his navy made his land army vulnerable. He feared losing supply lines and left for Persia, leaving his general Mardonius in charge.
Q: What supernatural elements appear in Herodotus’ Histories?
A: Oracles, omens, and divine interventions appear, but Herodotus treats them critically, often presenting alternative explanations.
Q: How did Herodotus analyze his sources?
A: He compared multiple accounts, assessed credibility, and acknowledged uncertainty, making his work more investigative.
Q: Who was Herodotus, and why is he important?
A: A 5th-century BCE historian from Halicarnassus, he wrote Histories, blending inquiry with storytelling to document the Persian Wars.
Q: What sources did Herodotus use?
A: He gathered oral traditions, travelers’ accounts, and official records, cross-examining them for accuracy.
Q: Why did Herodotus include bizarre stories, according to Luce?
A: Luce suggests he aimed to entertain, provide moral lessons, and explore cultural diversity.
Q: What does Luce mean by Herodotus’ concern for balance and antithesis?
A: Herodotus contrasted Greek and Persian perspectives, balancing heroism with flaws and success with hubris.
Q: What is the subject of Histories, according to Luce?
A: The struggle between East and West, emphasizing freedom versus tyranny, cultural contrasts, and fate’s role in history.
Q: How does Herodotus’ history differ from Homer’s epic style?
A: Herodotus focuses on factual inquiry and analysis, while Homer’s epics are mythological, poetic, and heroic.
