Historians And Sources

Question 1

Who is known as the father of history?

Answer 1

Herodotus

Herodotus is recognized for his work in history, geography, and ethnography.

Question 2

What city was Herodotus from?

Answer 2

Halicarnassus

Halicarnassus was under Persian control in the 5th century BCE.

Question 3

In which dialect did Herodotus write his histories?

Answer 3

Ionian dialect

He learned this dialect during his travels.

Question 4

What is Aeschylus often referred to as?

Answer 4

Father of tragedy

Aeschylus is recognized for his significant contributions to ancient Greek drama.

Question 5

What major battles did Aeschylus participate in?

Answer 5

Marathon and Salamis

These battles were significant victories for the Greeks against the Persians.

Question 6

Who was Plato’s teacher?

Answer 6

Socrates

Plato studied under Socrates, influencing his philosophical outlook.

Question 7

What is the primary focus of Plato’s philosophy?

Answer 7

Ethical matters

Plato’s works often explore questions of morality and ethics.

Question 8

What is Thucydides known for?

Answer 8

Being an ancient Greek historian

Thucydides was an Athenian who provided eyewitness accounts of historical events.

Question 9

What is the Behistun inscription, and when was it created?

Answer 9

An inscription from 521/20

The Behistun inscription is crucial for understanding ancient Persian history.

Question 10

What was Herodotus’s citizenship later in life?

Answer 10

Citizen of Thurii

Thurii is located in modern Italy.

Question 11

What type of history did Herodotus incorporate into his works?

Answer 11

Geography and ethnography

He blended these disciplines with historical narrative.

Question 12

What years mark the life of Herodotus?

Answer 12

484-425 BCE

These dates outline his period of influence.

Question 13

What years mark the life of Aeschylus?

Answer 13

525-456 BCE

This timeframe highlights his contributions to tragedy.

Question 14

What years mark the life of Plato?

Answer 14

428-348 BCE

Plato’s lifetime coincides with a critical period in Greek philosophy.

Question 15

What years mark the life of Thucydides?

Answer 15

460-400 BCE

Thucydides’s work provides insights into the Peloponnesian War.

Question 16

Whole thing on Justin and Trogus plus dates

Answer 16

Justin= 2nd C Roman writer, wrote the epitome of Trogus’ works (he had bee a 1st century BC writer and lived during reign of Augustus)

Question 17

Who was Aristotle?

Answer 17

• Greek philosopher
• Born 384 BCE in Greece (Macedonia)
• Died 322
• Migrated to Athens and joined the Academy of Plato

Question 18

Who was Plutarch?

Answer 18

• Greek philosopher
• Biography, not history
• 40s-120s CE
• Middle Platonist
• Became a Roman citizen

Question 19

What is Hellenica?

Answer 19

• Only sig work of Greek history that documents last 7 years of Pelo War and its aftermath
• Events from 411 to 362
• Continues story of Thucydides
• Seven-book account
• Pro-spartan and anti-Theban?
• Omits fact and inequalities of treatment

Question 20

Who was Xenophon?

Answer 20

General, historian and philosopher
- 430-355 BCE
- Born in Athens but became associated with Sparta- don’t really have anything surviving about the Spartans written by themselves
- Constitution of the Lacadaemonians
- Belonged to an aristocratic family
- At 30, elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand
- Service of Cyrus the Younger and his campaign for the Persian throne

Question 21

Who was Diodorus?

Answer 21

• Greek historian
• 1st Century BCE

Question 22

Who was Polybius?

Answer 22

• Hellenistic period Greek historian
• 200-118 BCE
• More specifically military history

Question 23

Who was Eratosthenes?

Answer 23

• 276-194 BCE
• Wrote up chronologies of eras
• Greek mathematician and geographer

Question 24

What pol system did Plutarch favour?

Answer 24

Monarchy

Question 25

Ashoka inscriptions

Answer 25

- By emperor of Maurya Empire from 268-232 BCE, about imperial power and to spread religious conviction and Dhamma

Question 26

Who was Arrian?

Answer 26

o Lived AD 86-146 o Greek o Arrian felt that Alex hadn’t been recorded well or frequently enough and wanted to celebrate and preserve him (Anabasis of Alexander) o Experience under Roman emperor Hadrian o Interested in military o Relatively positive

Question 27

Who did Diodorus use to inform his works?

Answer 27

Ephorus (these have now been lost, supposedly 400-330 BCE, Greek historian who saw the invasion of Asia by Alex).

Question 28

Who was Curtius Rufus?

Answer 28

- Roman historian, probs 1st century CE, much of the work is missing

Question 29

Who was Josephus?

Answer 29

- Wrote The Jewish War between 75 and 79 AD - End of Vespasian’s reign - Original was in Aramaic - Josephus was a Jewish historian and priest - He commanded Jewish troops during revolt against Rome - Later became a Roman citizen and lived in Rome- wrote under patronage of Flavian Dynasty o Second dynastic line of emperors to rule the Roman Empire - Lived in Rome when he wrote The Jewish Wars

Question 30

Who was Cassius Dio?

Answer 30

- Roman historian of Greek origin - 80 volumes of the history of Rome published - Written in Ancient Greek - Later they were published in Latin - Born 165 CE in Nicaea

Question 31

Who was Tacitus?

Answer 31

- Roman historian and politician - Born 56 AD and died 120 AD - He was the son-in-law of famous general Agricola - Events of annals precede those of histories despite them being written in the reverse order to this

Question 32

Who was Livy?

Answer 32

Historian, 59 BC-17 AD, on good terms with Judi-Claudia’s dynasty

Question 33

Apis Stele

Answer 33

524 BCE

Question 34

Behistun Inscription

Answer 34

522-486 BCE roughly

Question 35

Thucydides

Answer 35

- Athenian historian and general - Provides one of the only accounts of the Peloponnesian War - 460-400 BCE - ‘Political Realism’

Question 36

What is the stance of The Old Oligarch on democracy?

Answer 36

Very much against democracy

Question 37

According to The Old Oligarch, who actually runs the city?

Answer 37

The poor

Question 38

What does The Old Oligarch claim about the decision-making power in the city?

Answer 38

The poor get all the decision making power

Question 39

What does The Old Oligarch say about the poor's ability to make decisions?

Answer 39

They are ignorant and easily misled

Question 40

How does The Old Oligarch describe the living conditions of slaves?

Answer 40

Slaves live in luxury and don’t fear anyone

Question 41

What does The Old Oligarch say about the centralization of judicial matters?

Answer 41

It oppresses the rest of the Greek states

Question 42

How does The Old Oligarch describe the efficiency of Athenian court cases?

Answer 42

Gets through their court cases quickly and efficiently

Question 43

What is Aristotle's definition of oligarchy?

Answer 43

Rule of the few

Question 44

How does Aristotle classify oligarchy in relation to aristocracy?

Answer 44

Deviant form of aristocracy

Question 45

What negative outcome does Aristotle associate with oligarchy?

Answer 45

Caused class conflict

Question 46

What is Aristotle's definition of aristocracy?

Answer 46

Rule by the best for the common good

Question 47

What is Aristotle's definition of democracy?

Answer 47

Rule by the many, normally the poor, with risk of serving their own interests

Question 48

According to Aristotle, how are forms of government characterized?

Answer 48

Fluid and cyclical

Question 49

What can happen to monarchy according to Aristotle's view of government forms?

Answer 49

Could become tyranny

Question 50

What can happen to aristocracy according to Aristotle's view of government forms?

Answer 50

Could become oligarchy

Question 51

What can happen to polity according to Aristotle's view of government forms?

Answer 51

Could become democracy

Question 52

What can destroy forms of government according to Aristotle?

Answer 52

Their opposites and by themselves

Question 53

Jewish Sources around JW times

Answer 53

- Midrashes - BK revolt- Hebrew and Aramaic sources, we have letters written by BK themselves - Seder Olam Rabbah (‘the great order of the world’) o 2nd Century BCE Hebrew language chronology  Babylonian Talmud  From Adam to BK’s revolt

Question 54

What was Polybius interested in when he wrote about constitutions?

Answer 54

Why Rome had a better constitution than ever before and why they ruled the med better

Question 55

Miller commentary on Herodotus

Answer 55

- He himself is an east Greek that travelled within the PE - Would have used Aramaic to communicate, but we don’t know how well he knew it and there is evidence that he couldn’t read it - H states he interacted with Iranians but clear inaccuracies show he could not have known Persian o Example= Statement that all Persian names end in sigma

Question 56

Vignolo Munson commentary on Herodotus

Answer 56

- ‘H descriptions of foreign societies reflect Greek assumptions and prejudices’ but he also reports ‘persuasive and historically valid info’ - H had access to good sources on the Persians, especially those living in Asia Minor - Does try to genuinely understand