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)