Xerxes

Question 1

How did Xerxes get the throne

Answer 1

• Xerxes was not the eldest son
• Argued that he was he first-born son of his father when Darius became king, so should be preferred

Question 2

What initial challenges did Xerxes face in his reign?

Answer 2

Put down rebellions in Egypt and Babylon

Question 3

Why did Xerxes invade Greece?

Answer 3

• Persuaded by Mardonius, who wanted to become satrap of Greece
• Revenge for Athenian ‘insult’ at Marathon
• Good terrain and resources
• Access to western Europe for further invasion

Question 4

How big were Xerxes’ forces?

Answer 4

2,500,000 men

Question 5

Where did Xerxes’ forces cross?

Answer 5

• The Hellespont
• Fleet followed by coast; through canal at Mt. Athos.

Question 6

What two engineering works were built during Xerxes’ invasion?

Answer 6

• Canal at Mt Athos;
• Boat-bridge at Hellespont; Xerxes whips, brands, curses and hurls fetters into Hellespont after bridge destroyed by storm.

Question 7

7 Describe Xerxes’ encounter with Pythius

Answer 7

• Pythius fed Xerxes’ army; Xerxes gave him money and the offer of a favour
• Pythius asked for his eldest son to be spared from draft
• Xerxes was angry; ordered the son cut in half and displayed at the entrances to the Hellespont bridge

Question 8

What was the name of the alliance created by the Greek states to oppose Persia?

Answer 8

• The Hellenic League

Question 9

Where did the Greeks first oppose the Persians? How many were in the Greek army, and who led them?

Answer 9

• Thermopylae
• 4,000 (including 300 Spartans)
• Led by king Leonidas

Question 10

How were the Greeks initially victorious at Thermopylae? How did Xerxes beat them?

Answer 10

• Spartans used terrain (sea on one side, mountain on another)
• Superior weaponry and discipline held up Persians
• Greek traitor (Ephialtes) betrayed route around position to Xerxes
• Spartans stayed to oppose Persians; all bar 2 were killed

Question 11

What naval battle took place at the same time as Thermopylae?

Answer 11

• Artemisium

Question 12

Who won the naval battle, and how?

Answer 12

• Stalemate (slight edge to Greeks)
• Many Persian ships lost in a storm as they had no anchorage
• Small Athenian forces badly mauled in encounters

Question 13

What did Xerxes do to Athens? Why?

Answer 13

• Burned it to the ground, especially temple to Athena on the Acropolis.
• Allowed Athenian exile to sacrifice at Acropolis
• Reasons: revenge for burning of temple of Cybebe at Sardis

Question 14

Who was Artemisia and what was her advice to Xerxes before the battle of Salamis?

Answer 14

• Queen of Caria
• Advises Xerxes to let the Greeks retreat and take out the states one by one.

Question 15

Who was Themistocles? How did he trick Xerxes?

Answer 15

• Athenian politician; sends his Persian slave Sicinnus to Xerxes to persuade him to fight

Question 16

How did the Greeks win the battle of Salamis?

Answer 16

• As at Thermopylae Greeks use narrow terrain to reduce Persian numerical advantage.

Question 17

What did Xerxes do after the battle of Salamis?

Answer 17

• Mardonius advises Xerxes to go home and let him take over the campaign

Question 18

What happened at the Battle of Plataea?

Answer 18

• Large Greek army, led by Sparta, oppose remaining Persians
• Infantry struggles to overcome Persan forces until Mardonius was killed by a rock to the head
• Greeks also defeated Persians at Mycale the same day.

Question 19

What alliance was formed at the end of the Persian Wars? Who led it?

Answer 19

• Delian League
• Led by Athens

Question 20

Where were the Persians defeated in 466BC, and by whom?

Answer 20

• Battle of Eurymedon won by Cimon; may have been a peace treaty with Xerxes who dies the next year (465 BC).