Classical Studies 1000 Lecture 10: The Persian Wars
31 Jan 2019
School
Department
Course
Professor
Herodotus
• From Halicarnassus (484 – 424 BCE)
• He wrote about the Persian invasion of Greece
• Main source etymology of ‘history’
• Book was titled Historia, ‘inquiries’
• “Father of History”
The Persian Empire
• Cyrus II of Persia (598 – 530 BCE)
• Conquered tribes to the north before 550
• Ruled 559 – 530 BCE
• A single political entity
• He then conquered King Croesus and took Sardis after 550 BCE
o Put Croesus to Death
o Croesus did not die
o Thus, he became Cyrus’ advisor
• Croesus died in 546 BCE
• Cyrus took over Lydia’s control Ionian cities
o They accepted their new overlord and did not rebel
• Cyrus dies in battle 530 BCE
• His son Darius ruled 522 – 486 BCE
Darius
• Political Ambitions become more vigorous
• Ionion cities turned to Satrapies
o Government which the city or the area is governed by royal appointees
o They also have to pay a higher tribute fee
o King had supreme political power, exalted status and absolute authority
o Has spies travel the land to check for rebels
▪ Known as ‘the Eyes and Ears of the King
o This didn’t really work, as a rebel happened
Ionian Revolt
• 499 - 494/93 BCE
• First event of the Persian Wars
• Due to political and/or economic pressures
• Because Persian rule was oppressive and taxes were high
• 498 BCE: Athenians and Ertrians burn Sardis
o Rebels were defeated
o Darius punished the rebels
Persian Retaliation
• Darius was incensed that Athens had aided
• Envoys to Athens and Sparta demanding earth and water
o Envoys were roughly handled at both poleis
• 492 BCE: Punitive expedition under mardonius
Marathon
• NW coast of Attica
o A state
• The plain was known as Marathon
• No assistance came to the Athenians from the Spartans
• The only city state who joined the Athenians were the Plataeans
• Miltiades was Athenian Stratagoes (General)
o His strategy: Thin his phalanx’s centre and strengthen his wings, to avoid being
outflanked because Persians outnumbered the Greeks; 25,000 Persians to 9600 Greeks
o 6400 Persians Died and 192 Greeks Died
o Numbers are sus (lmao)
Document Summary
Herodotus: from halicarnassus (484 424 bce, he wrote about the persian invasion of greece, main source etymology of history", book was titled historia, inquiries". Persian retaliation: darius was incensed that athens had aided, envoys to athens and sparta demanding earth and water, envoys were roughly handled at both poleis, 492 bce: punitive expedition under mardonius. The importance of marathon: they won by tactical skill. 480 bce: xerxes and his force cross into greece. To get to the mainland, they bridge the hellespont by latching together ships (known as. Pontoons: not successful, worked the second time. His behavior shows his hubris: over leaning pride. Size of his men was 200,000 +700 warships. Sparta was the leader of the hellenic league . Greeks decide to confront them at the thermopylae: narrow passage, easy to defend. Spartans wanted to meet the persians at the ismath of corin.
