Week 6: 480 BC Persian Invasion Flashcards
Why did Thessaly and Macedon Medize?
Because their land was flat and unobstructed, rendering it UNDEFENDABLE against the Persians.
What Polis was the most “Godless” of all the Greeks?
Athens
How does Themistokles respond to the 1st Oracle at Delphi?
He refuses what he hears, and demands for another Oracle.
How did Themistokles interpret “The Wooden Walls” ?
A new naval fleet
How did Themistokles’ OPPONENTS interpret the “Wooden Walls”?
As the rickety fence on the acropolis
What 2 things does the second Oracle tell Themistokles?
- Trust in the Wooden Walls
- Divine Salamis, you will bring death to women’s sons (example of Delphi’s ambiguity)
How did Themistokles’ interpretation win?
By a vote.
Who ordered Athens to be evacuated?
Themistokles
What did the Themistokles Decree say?
- To abandon Attica
- States that after Artemesium, Salamis will be the fallback point for the Greek navy
After evacuation, in what 3 places did Athenian families find refuge?
- Troezen
- Salamis
- Aegina
Where was the Pan-Hellenic conference?
Isthmus
What did they do at the Pan-Hellenic conference at Isthmus?
- Resolved quarrels against eachother
- Sent spies to Xerxes at Sardis
- Sent out calls for help to Argos, Corcyra, Crete and Syracuse
What 4 city-states did the Panhellenic conference call for assistance against Xerxes?
- Argos
- Corcyra
- Crete
- Syracuse
What does Xerxes do when he finds the Greek spies?
He tells them all they want to know
(this is how arrogant and confident Xerxes is)
What 2 states argued over who gets to lead the Panhellenic league?
Sparta and Argos
Xerxes takes advantage of the Spartan/Argive quarrel and persuades Argos to join him. How does he persuade the Argives?
By stating that Argives are descended from Persians
(Perseus founded Argos, and Perseus sounds like Persian)
What does Gelon of Syracuse want in return for possibly helping the Greeks?
Full command of all the Greeks
(Athens, of course, says NO)
In which battle did Gelon defeat the Carthaginians on the same day as Salamis?
Himera
The Thesselians threaten to Medize IF ____________
The major town of Tempe is not held
How does the Macedonian King Alexander Ist help Xerxes take Thessaly?
Alexander Ist spread false rumours to the Athenian army guarding Tempe, that they were soon about to be encircled, and that they should run.
(Athenian army flees)
True or False:
Xerxes took Thessaly without a fight
TRUE
(Alexander Ist’ deception of the Athenians worked)
Why didn’t the Greeks fully engage in a naval battle at Artemesion?
Because on the eve, the Greeks sent 3 ships as scouts. The 3 ships all got wrecked (BAD OMEN), and their sailors sacrificed by the Persians.
According to Herodotus, how big was Xerxes’ Army?
1.7 Million
(very unlikely however)
What is the Persian Navy’s great weakness?
No friendly ports
(were thus exposed to open waters and storms)
What did Artabanus warn Xerxes about his army?
That the army was too damn big
The Spartans composed __% of the army at Thermopylae.
10%
Which Greek allies stayed with Leonidas when he dismissed all but the 300 Spartans?
Thespians
Thebans (as hostages, by force they had to stay)
Who suffered the most from Thermopylae?
The Thespians
(Nearly their entire male population died fighting there)
What caused the Persians to fail in taking Delphi?
An “earthquake” from Apollo
(AKA locals and priests pushing rocks down the mountain)
(IT WORKS! Persian army flees in terror)
While besieging the Acropolis, how do the Persians finally manage to get in?
Through a small spring water cave entrance.
True or False:
Themistokles manages to successfully persuade the Greeks to fight at Salamis.
FALSE!
The Greeks refuse, so Themistokles has to trick them into fighting.
How does Themostokles trick the Greeks into fighting at Salamis?
He says: The best way to force the Greeks to fight, is if the Persians attack first.
To trick the Persians into bringing their fleet into the narrow straits of Salamis, he sends a slave to tell Xerxes that the Greeks will be retreating the next morning, and that if Xerxes catches them, he, Themistocles, will defect and give it up to Xerxes)
Which ancient source was an eyewitness account at Salamis?
Aeschylus
Which ancient source claims that the Greek crews won because they were better trained?
Herodotus
Who was the queen from Halicarnassus who helped Xerxes?
Artemesia
What is the difference between Aeschylus and Herodotus’ accounts of Salamis?
Aeschylus attributes victory to Themistokles’ genius AND the skill of the Greek navy
Herodotus attributes victory SOLELY to the skill of the Greek crews
Which city state fought at all the major battles of 480 BC, but were sidelined by Athenian sources?
Corinth
