Darius Flashcards
How was Darius able to claim the throne ( 6 marker)
Cambyses was married to Otanes’ (a persian noble) daughter.
Otanes asked for her to see if false smerdis had ears, as cyrus had cut of the ears of the fake smerdis long ago,
he didnt have ears and so darius and 6 others kill him,
The first mans horse to neigh after dawn would be king, that being darius
How did Darius organise the empire
Introduces satraps and satrapies which look after cerain areas of land and colect taxes, they also offer soldiers
What did Darius build
Royal roads, transportation and trade,
Canal, Transportation and trade
Susa, includes murals and workman
Perselpolis, new capital which darius wanted for it to be super imporant
Name people Darius conquered
Indus Valley
Thrace
Skudra
Macedon
Samos
Aegean Greeks
Why did Darius build the bisitun inscriptiom
To legitimise his reign
To show his power
To show that he was blessed by Auramazda (Ahura Mazda)
Name 2 causes of the Ionian revolt
Aristagoras was worried he would be removed as a tyrant, the Ionians felt they were being taxed unfairly.
Darius invasion of Scythia
The plane was flat and large, Scythians fought with gorilla war tactics, they continuously baited the Persians Until they ran out of food/cattle
After several months is was clear that the campaign had been a disaster, and Darius retreated back to the river Ister. The Persians got lost on the way back, and the Scythians (beating them there) did try to persuade the Ionians to burn the bridge and abandon the King.
The Ionians eventually decided to stay with Darius and protect the bridge, although the Ionian tyrant Miltiades had argued strongly they should take the Scythian advice
How was Darius able to put down rebellions
Darius had an army that was loyal to him. His generals were made up of his close personal friends, including those that had helped him to oust false Smerdis.
How does darius legitimise his rule
Crushes revolts
Marries Atossa (Cyrus daughter)
Creates Behisitun Inscription
What were the events of the Ionian revolt
Aristagoras, , falls out with the
local satrap after attempting a joint military conquest of Naxos
Aristagoras argues with the Persian generals, and looks like he will lose his power. He chooses to resign and convince his city, Miletus, and others like it, to rebel against the Persians
Greeks do this happily, however he needs help, and so goes to mainland Greece where he Receives 20 ships from Athens and 5 ships from Eretria.
In first assault Greeks burn Sardis to the ground. A final showdown takes place at Lade, near Miletus.
Persians bribe and have more ships and so win.
