How did Xerxes get the throne
- Xerxes was not the eldest son
- Argued that he was he first-born son of his father when Darius became king, so should be preferred
What initial challenges did Xerxes face in his reign?
Put down rebellions in Egypt and Babylon
Why did Xerxes invade Greece?
- Persuaded by Mardonius, who wanted to become satrap of Greece
- Revenge for Athenian ‘insult’ at Marathon
- Good terrain and resources
- Access to western Europe for further invasion
How big were Xerxes’ forces?
2,500,000 men
Where did Xerxes’ forces cross?
- The Hellespont
- Fleet followed by coast; through canal at Mt. Athos.
What two engineering works were built during Xerxes’ invasion?
- Canal at Mt Athos;
- Boat-bridge at Hellespont; Xerxes whips, brands, curses and hurls fetters into Hellespont after bridge destroyed by storm.
7 Describe Xerxes’ encounter with Pythius
- Pythius fed Xerxes’ army; Xerxes gave him money and the offer of a favour
- Pythius asked for his eldest son to be spared from draft
- Xerxes was angry; ordered the son cut in half and displayed at the entrances to the Hellespont bridge
What was the name of the alliance created by the Greek states to oppose Persia?
- The Hellenic League
Where did the Greeks first oppose the Persians? How many were in the Greek army, and who led them?
- Thermopylae
- 4,000 (including 300 Spartans)
- Led by king Leonidas
How were the Greeks initially victorious at Thermopylae? How did Xerxes beat them?
- Spartans used terrain (sea on one side, mountain on another)
- Superior weaponry and discipline held up Persians
- Greek traitor (Ephialtes) betrayed route around position to Xerxes
- Spartans stayed to oppose Persians; all bar 2 were killed
What naval battle took place at the same time as Thermopylae?
- Artemisium
Who won the naval battle, and how?
- Stalemate (slight edge to Greeks)
- Many Persian ships lost in a storm as they had no anchorage
- Small Athenian forces badly mauled in encounters
What did Xerxes do to Athens? Why?
- Burned it to the ground, especially temple to Athena on the Acropolis.
- Allowed Athenian exile to sacrifice at Acropolis
- Reasons: revenge for burning of temple of Cybebe at Sardis
Who was Artemisia and what was her advice to Xerxes before the battle of Salamis?
- Queen of Caria
- Advises Xerxes to let the Greeks retreat and take out the states one by one.
Who was Themistocles? How did he trick Xerxes?
- Athenian politician; sends his Persian slave Sicinnus to Xerxes to persuade him to fight
How did the Greeks win the battle of Salamis?
- As at Thermopylae Greeks use narrow terrain to reduce Persian numerical advantage.
What did Xerxes do after the battle of Salamis?
- Mardonius advises Xerxes to go home and let him take over the campaign
What happened at the Battle of Plataea?
- Large Greek army, led by Sparta, oppose remaining Persians
- Infantry struggles to overcome Persan forces until Mardonius was killed by a rock to the head
- Greeks also defeated Persians at Mycale the same day.
What alliance was formed at the end of the Persian Wars? Who led it?
- Delian League
- Led by Athens
Where were the Persians defeated in 466BC, and by whom?
- Battle of Eurymedon won by Cimon; may have been a peace treaty with Xerxes who dies the next year (465 BC).
