Why did the Persians lose the Persian Wars? Flashcards
(13 cards)
How did Herodotus describe the Thebans at Platea?
“Persia’s firm friends”
What did Herodotus call the Battle of Mycale?
“The second Ionian Revolt”
This indicates the significance of the battle in the context of Ionian resistance against Persian rule, and therefore reflects greek unity
What does the Serpent’s Column signify?
The unity of 31 Greek city states
According to Herodotus how do the allied Greeks plant to treat those who yielded to Persia?
“punish all men of Greek blood, who without compulsion yielded to the Persians”
This reflects the sentiment of loyalty and resistance among the Greeks against those who collaborated with the enemy, thus does this make greek unity an illusion?
How does Herodotus highlight Athenian importance
He suggest that without the Athenians “there would have been no attempt to resist the Persians by sea”
Controversial as when he is writing Athens is dislkied for it’s control over the empire
What does Herodotus attribute Sparta’s chief motive to fight as?
“I think that his chief motive was apprehension of losing Athenian support”
What does Herodotus suggest was the chief reason fo Persian defeat?
Athenian Navy, he recognises that his opinion is unpopular, reflecting the period he is writing in
What does Herodotus tell us of Thermistocles’ foresight at Salamis
“Fighting in a confined space favours us but the open sea favours the enemy”
How was the leadership of Sparta in the Hellenic league decided according to Herodotus?
“the other members of the confederacy had stipulated for a Lacedaemonian commander”
According to Herodotus what does Artabanus say are Xerxes’ greatest threat?
“the land and the sea”
According to Herodotus why does Xerxes abandon Attica?
“His reason for abandoning Attica was that it was bad country for cavalry”
How does Herodotus describe the Persian forces?
“in courage and strength they were as good as their adversaries, but they were deficient in armour, untrained and greatly inferior in skill”
What was the impact of luck on the Greek victory?
The Persians lost half their fleet due to storms, allowing the Greeks to win
