Week 6: 480 BC Persian Invasion

Question 1

Why did Thessaly and Macedon Medize?

Answer 1

Because their land was flat and unobstructed, rendering it UNDEFENDABLE against the Persians.

Question 2

What Polis was the most “Godless” of all the Greeks?

Answer 2

Athens

Question 3

How does Themistokles respond to the 1st Oracle at Delphi?

Answer 3

He refuses what he hears, and demands for another Oracle.

Question 4

How did Themistokles interpret “The Wooden Walls” ?

Answer 4

A new naval fleet

Question 5

How did Themistokles’ OPPONENTS interpret the “Wooden Walls”?

Answer 5

As the rickety fence on the acropolis

Question 6

What 2 things does the second Oracle tell Themistokles?

Answer 6

1. Trust in the Wooden Walls
2. Divine Salamis, you will bring death to women’s sons (example of Delphi’s ambiguity)

Question 7

How did Themistokles’ interpretation win?

Answer 7

By a vote.

Question 8

Who ordered Athens to be evacuated?

Answer 8

Themistokles

Question 9

What did the Themistokles Decree say?

Answer 9

• To abandon Attica
• States that after Artemesium, Salamis will be the fallback point for the Greek navy

Question 10

After evacuation, in what 3 places did Athenian families find refuge?

Answer 10

• Troezen
• Salamis
• Aegina

Question 11

Where was the Pan-Hellenic conference?

Answer 11

Isthmus

Question 12

What did they do at the Pan-Hellenic conference at Isthmus?

Answer 12

1. Resolved quarrels against eachother
2. Sent spies to Xerxes at Sardis
3. Sent out calls for help to Argos, Corcyra, Crete and Syracuse

Question 13

What 4 city-states did the Panhellenic conference call for assistance against Xerxes?

Answer 13

• Argos
• Corcyra
• Crete
• Syracuse

Question 14

What does Xerxes do when he finds the Greek spies?

Answer 14

He tells them all they want to know

(this is how arrogant and confident Xerxes is)

Question 15

What 2 states argued over who gets to lead the Panhellenic league?

Answer 15

Sparta and Argos

Question 16

Xerxes takes advantage of the Spartan/Argive quarrel and persuades Argos to join him. How does he persuade the Argives?

Answer 16

By stating that Argives are descended from Persians

(Perseus founded Argos, and Perseus sounds like Persian)

Question 17

What does Gelon of Syracuse want in return for possibly helping the Greeks?

Answer 17

Full command of all the Greeks

(Athens, of course, says NO)

Question 18

In which battle did Gelon defeat the Carthaginians on the same day as Salamis?

Answer 18

Himera

Question 19

The Thesselians threaten to Medize IF ____________

Answer 19

The major town of Tempe is not held

Question 20

How does the Macedonian King Alexander Ist help Xerxes take Thessaly?

Answer 20

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)

Question 21

True or False:

Xerxes took Thessaly without a fight

Answer 21

TRUE

(Alexander Ist’ deception of the Athenians worked)

Question 22

Why didn’t the Greeks fully engage in a naval battle at Artemesion?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

According to Herodotus, how big was Xerxes’ Army?

Answer 23

1.7 Million

(very unlikely however)

Question 24

What is the Persian Navy’s great weakness?

Answer 24

No friendly ports

(were thus exposed to open waters and storms)

Question 25

What did Artabanus warn Xerxes about his army?

Answer 25

That the army was too damn big

Question 26

The Spartans composed __% of the army at Thermopylae.

Answer 26

10%

Question 27

Which Greek allies stayed with Leonidas when he dismissed all but the 300 Spartans?

Answer 27

Thespians

Thebans (as hostages, by force they had to stay)

Question 28

Who suffered the most from Thermopylae?

Answer 28

The Thespians

(Nearly their entire male population died fighting there)

Question 29

What caused the Persians to fail in taking Delphi?

Answer 29

An “earthquake” from Apollo

(AKA locals and priests pushing rocks down the mountain)

(IT WORKS! Persian army flees in terror)

Question 30

While besieging the Acropolis, how do the Persians finally manage to get in?

Answer 30

Through a small spring water cave entrance.

Question 31

True or False:

Themistokles manages to successfully persuade the Greeks to fight at Salamis.

Answer 31

FALSE!

The Greeks refuse, so Themistokles has to trick them into fighting.

Question 32

How does Themostokles trick the Greeks into fighting at Salamis?

Answer 32

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)

Question 33

Which ancient source was an eyewitness account at Salamis?

Answer 33

Aeschylus

Question 34

Which ancient source claims that the Greek crews won because they were better trained?

Answer 34

Herodotus

Question 35

Who was the queen from Halicarnassus who helped Xerxes?

Answer 35

Artemesia

Question 36

What is the difference between Aeschylus and Herodotus’ accounts of Salamis?

Answer 36

Aeschylus attributes victory to Themistokles’ genius AND the skill of the Greek navy

Herodotus attributes victory SOLELY to the skill of the Greek crews

Question 37

Which city state fought at all the major battles of 480 BC, but were sidelined by Athenian sources?

Answer 37

Corinth