Persian Wars - People

Question 1

Aristagoras

Answer 1

‘author’ of Ionian revolt, Ionian tyrant of Miletus

Question 2

Datis

Answer 2

Persian general, joint commander at Battle of Marathon with Artaphernes

Question 3

Artaphernes

Answer 3

Persian commander at Battle of Marathon + Satrap of Lydia, involved in Ionian revolt

Question 4

Themistocles

Answer 4

Athenian politician, radical democrat, held the position of archon (magistrate) in Athens, helped convince Athens to become a naval power and fortify the harbour. He interpreted the delphic oracle.He gave up Athenian leadership for the sake of unity to the Spartans. Developed war strategies and was said to have picked the battlefield of Plataea and Artemisium and Salamis.He tricked Xerxes into fighting at Salamis. He was a leading radical democratic politician.Built the long walls in Athens. He was Ostracised after the Persian Wars and spent time in Argos spreading anti Spartan and anti Oligarchic propaganda. Ended up in Persian where he was granted an area to rule.

Question 5

Eurybiades

Answer 5

Appointed admiral of the Greek Fleet - a Spartan. Commander in the Battle of Artemisium and Battle of Salamis

Question 6

Xerxes

Answer 6

King of Persian (from 486 BC) - continued invasion of Greece

Question 7

Darius

Answer 7

King of Persia (dies in 486 BC), instigated invasion of Greece

Question 8

Mardonius

Answer 8

Persian general, sent by Darius on an expedition but it failed when ships caught in a storm at Mt Athos. Later he urged Xerxes to invade Greece in 480 BC campaign. After Xerxes left Greece he had 300,000 men under his command. Tried diplomatic measures with Athens which failed. He led the Persian forces at the battle of Plataea where he died.

Question 9

Aristides

Answer 9

Was a general at Marathon that sided with Miltiades. He was a conservative democrat, ostracised before the persian wars (second invasion) but was recalled. At the Battle of Salamis he defeated the Persian soldiers that had been placed on the island of Pstellyria . He led the Athenian contingency at the Battle of Plataea. Was said to have won the leadership of the Delian League from Sparta because of his justice and tolerance. He organised the Delian League structure and assessed the tribute each member needed to pay.

Question 10

Leonidas

Answer 10

Spartan king at Thermopylae, died in battle - fulfils prophecy

Question 11

Miltiades

Answer 11

Ionian tyrant, fought with Darius in Thracian and Scythian campaign, involved in Ionian rebellion, fled to Athens, became a Greek general and was involved in greek strategy at the battle of Marathon

Question 12

Callimachus

Answer 12

overall Greek commander at Battle of Marathon (where he died), War Archon

Athenian war magistrate called a Polemarch - deciding vote on war strategy at Athens

Question 13

Cyrus

Answer 13

First Persian King

Question 14

Cambyses

Answer 14

Second Persian king, expanded to Egypt

Question 15

Cleisthenes

Answer 15

Athenian aristocrat, started democratic process

Question 16

Hippias

Answer 16

Son of Pisistratus, banished from Athens, led Persians to Marathon in 490 BC, wanted to be reinstated as tyrant of Athens

Question 17

Pisistriad family

Answer 17

Aristocratic family in Athens

Question 18

Isagorus

Answer 18

Athenian tyrant prior to 508 BC who asked Spartan soldiers to guard him. Killed in the democratic revolution

Question 19

Megabates

Answer 19

Persian general involved in Naxos rebellion failing

Question 20

Pheidippides

Answer 20

Ran from Athens to Sparta, then to Marathon to ask the Spartans for their help prior to the Battle of Marathon

Question 21

Dematrus

Answer 21

ex-Spartan King who accompanied Persia to invaded Greece in 480 BC

(had been thrown out because he retreated)

Question 22

Gelon

Answer 22

Greek tyrant of Syracuse, wanted to lead the Greek forces bu was refused leadership and hence did not join the war

Question 23

Hydarnes

Answer 23

Persian commander of the Immortals at the Battle of Thermopylae

Question 24

Ephialtes

Answer 24

Greek traitor that told the Persians about the mountain track at the Battle of Thermopylae

Question 25

Sicinnus

Answer 25

Greek slave who Themistocles sent to Xerxes with the trick that the Athenians would medise and the Peloponnesians were trying to escape from Salamis (Battle of Salamis)

Question 26

Artemisia

Answer 26

Female Ionian Queen who fought for the Persians and was said to have won the respect of Xerxes. From Herodotus' hometown - Halicarnas

Question 27

Masistius

Answer 27

Persian cavalry commander at the Battle of Plataea. Died in the battle

Question 28

Artabanus

Answer 28

Persian army commander under Mardonius, fled the battle scene with 45 thousand men after the fall of Mardonius

Question 29

Pausanius

Answer 29

Won a splendid victory and manage to keep the Greek troops united when they had limited food and water. After the Persian was he lost command of the League of Greeks after treating the Ionians harshly. He was recalled to Sparta and tried for treason

Question 30

Leochtyus

Answer 30

Spartan commander at the Battle of Mycale

Question 31

Dorcis

Answer 31

Spartan commander of the Hellenic league following the recall of Pausanius but he too failed to win over the Ionians who then turned to Aristides.

Question 32

Cimon

Answer 32

Commander of the Naval contingency of the Delian League. He was a conservative democrat and most influential politician at the early part of the Delian League. Son of Miltiades. Protege of Aristides. Advocated a policy of dual hegemony of Greece by Sparta and Athens. Was Ostracised in 46 1BC after his offer of help to the Spartans was rejected. Later recalled, but died while in command of the Delian League.

Question 33

Ephialtes the democrat

Answer 33

He was a radical democrat - opponent of Cimon. Was mysteriously murdered, culprit unknown

Question 34

Pericles

Answer 34

Radical democrat and lead politician in Athens following murder of Ephialtes. Led Athens in an aggressive imperialistic foreign policy, eventually leading to war with Sparta.