Exam 2 Ancient Greece

Croesus, king of Lydia and Cyrus the Great, King of Persia

Croesus was the king of Lydia who, according to Herodotus, reigned for 14 years: from 560 BC until his defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 BC. Croesus was renowned for his wealth; Herodotus and Pausanias noted that his gifts were preserved at Delphi.

Miltiades

(c. 555-489 BCE) was the Athenian general who defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. Also known as Militiades the Younger, was an Athenian citizen and known for his downfall after the Battle of Marathon. He was the son of Cimon Coalemos, a renowned Olympic chariot-racer. His son is Cimon, the noted Athenian statesman. He played a key role in saving Athens.

4.There is little doubt that Athens, at one point of her history was an imperial state. When and why such a transformation took place? Or, is it necessary for Athens to have a turning point to become imperialistic?Was it the Peloponnesian War that put an end to Athens' imperial ambitions or is it in the nature of all empires sooner or later to fall?

-Beneficial aspects of Imperialism: -Victory and peace with Persia - No more piracy in the Eastern Mediterranean - Economic prosperity due to peace and Stability -Suppression of local wars between cities (very few wars; did not catch the attention of Athens)

1.What is the most significant battle that would best explain the failure of Xerxes to conquer Greece? Explain how and why.

-The most significant battle that would best explain the failure of Xerxes to conquer Greece would be the Battle of Salamis. After many Greek losses, the Persians had conquered Phocis, Boeotia, Attica, and Euboea. With Themistocles looking for a win, he was able to persuade the Greek Allies to go to battle against the Persians once again. The Greeks were hoping that a victory would prevent naval operations against the Peloponnese. With Xerxes eager to go win once again, he sailed his fleet into the Straits of Salamis and tried to block both entrances. Unfortunately for Xerxes, the Straits were too narrow and his fleet began to struggle and became unorganized. Themistocles seized this opportunity and the Greek fleet formed in a line and scored a decisive victory over the Persians. With this loss, Xerxes retreated to Asia with much of his army, leaving his general Mardonius to complete the conquer of Greece. This loss lead to Xerxes ultimate failure to conquer Greece, for the following year, the Persian army was decisively beaten at the Battle of Plataea and the Persian navy at the Battle of Mycale. These battles of Salamis and Plataea were the real turning points in the Greco-Persian wars and ultimately making the Greeks more powerful, causing the Persians to never attempt to conquer the Greek mainland again.

Pnix

Meeting of ecclesia

3. What are the features of the council of 500 in Athens that made sure that it will not lose its probouleutic character?

-legislation for consideration of the people; but the council was only the servant of the ecclesia - ecclesia could vote down a bill drafted by the council, change it on the floor, send it back with instructions to redraft or even to replace it with an entirely different bill - Nothing would go to the ecclesia without going to the council first -Could make recommendations; had special duties concerning the maintenance of the fleet -A probouleutic council= preparation and primary discussion of all matters to be introduced in the ecclesia -No legislative, electoral of Judicial power (link between ecclesia and citizens)

2.The rise and fall of the Athenian Empire. Can one imagine another scenario? Where would Athens likely be without the Peloponnesian War in politics, the arts and philosophy?

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6. Which is the truest historical rendition of Atheniandemocracy: Pericles' funeral oration or the Old-oligarch's constitution of the Athenians?Explain your opinion.

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Peace of Callias

449 B.C. Expedition led by Cimon(died in battle) was defeated in the waters of Cyprus. BUT same year Athenian navy victory off Cyprus Salamis; Brought peace between Greeks and Persia. Callias was the Athenian negotiator, also richest man in Athens, Also husband of Elpinice (Cimon's step-sisiter). Peace gave Athens control of the Aegean Sea

The Erechtheis inscription

459-458 B.C. The names of people who died in the war. Cyprus, Egypt, Phoencia, Halieis, Aegina, Megara. 177 names of dead peeps

The oath of Plataea

During the time of the Persian wars, an important concept to the Greeks was that of Medism. The word comes from the culture of the Medes, who the Greeks identified interchangeably with the Persians. (The Medes and Persians were, like, first-cousins) For the Greeks, any cooperation or collaboration with the Persians was disgraceful and was dubbed Medism, and those guilty of it, Medizers. So, later, when Xerxes first landed in Greece, he demanded a tribute of earth and water from all Greeks. Numerous Greeks such as the Thessalians, Magnesians, and the Dolopians submitted to Xerxes' demands. These Greeks became known as Medizers, and according to Herodotus, a contingent of fighting Persians swore to punish these Medizers at the conclusion of the war. It was decided among them, that when the time came, the Medizers would all pay a substantial tithe to the god at Delphi. It is not known if this oath was sworn before or after the Battle of Plataea, or if it even happened at all.

Themistocles

He was a famous general and a populist politician of Ancient Greece during the Persian wars. He was instrumental in ensuring much of the greek victories against the Persians. It was Themistocles who advocated for, and facilitated, the construction and maintenance of a stronger, larger Athenian naval force. He rose to political prominence without the aid of the great aristocratic families of Athens. He his remembered by later Greek historians, such as Diodorus and Thucydides, as being a man of singular vision, and of being a tactical genius. In anticipation of conflict, Themistocles was able to convince Athens to construct the two hundred triremes which would be vital in the repulsion of the Second Persian invasion. In that same war, it was Themistocles who lured Xerxes' naval forces into the straits of Salamis and effectively ended Xerxes' campaign in Greece.

Battle of Plataea (478 BC)

Following the decisive naval victory on the Straits of Salamis, Xerxes retreated back to Persia and left his general, Mardonius, to conclude operations in Greece. The grounds gained by the initial Xerxen invasion were massive and included Attica, Thessaly, Boeotia, Euboea, and Phocis. Consequently, the Peloponnesus was the only major region which stood between the allied Greeks and Persia's dominion over Greece. After assembling an enormous army to match the Persian's, the Allied greek forces marched to Boeotia. Upon arriving the Persian forces retreated into an encampment along the river Asopus, outside of Plataea, in the hopes of luring in the Greeks. However, the Greeks were fully aware that approaching would place their army in a compromised position due to the superior cavalry of the Persians. So, the two armies stood at a stalemate, facing each other, possibly as long as three weeks. Eventually the Persians were able to cut-off several key supply lines before they unleashed a surprise attack upon the Greeks. Although the Greek's left flank suffered greatly, the battle was decided on their right. The Greeks were able to retaliate swiftly and in great force; quickly overwhelming the enemy and slaying Mardonius himself. This victory would mark the "true" end of the second persian war.

Papyrus decree

Gave Athens the authority to take 5000 talents from the League treasury for the Athenian building program

Cimon (d. 450/449)

He was an Athenian statesman and general in mid-5th century BC Greece. He was the son of Miltiades, the victor of the Battle of Marathon. Cimon played a key role in creating the powerful Athenian maritime empire following the failure of the Persian invasion of Greece by Xerxes I in 480-479 BC

5. Having the choice between three options (politics, arts, and philosophy) to explain the legacy of Greece in Western history, which one would you choose and why?Or, was such a question irrelevant and why?

If I had to choose between politics, art, or philosophy to explain the legacy of Greece in Western history, I would choose politics, because it provided a foundation and system that our nation's founding fathers were able to use and construct from in order to create the United States of America. The founding fathers of our country looked to the democratic model of ancient Greece's system of self-government for guidance in order to construct our government. The United States also constructed our states starting with the original 13 colonies, to resemble to community structure of an ancient Greek polis, or city-state. Without the influence of Greek politics and democracy, the United States and much more of the modern world would look completely different today. Although the Greek philosophers also brought influence to our democratic government, I believe that their influence of Greek politics played a much more crucial role in the overall operations of our country.

Aristagoras of Miletus and king Cleomenes I of Sparta

In 499 BC, Aristagoras, the tyrant of Miletus, came to Sparta to request help from King Cleomenes with the Ionian Revolt against Persia. ... Around 494 BC, Cleomenes invaded and defeated Argos at the Battle of Sepeia.

Graphe Paranomon

Limited freedom of speech; Graphe= written document/law, Paranomos=illegal/ contrary to existing laws. Dealt in the Heliaea tribunal (1000 jurors minimum and presided by the six thesmotetes). Annulations of an already passed law? Rogator= fine/ If Recidivist= loss of his political rights (efficient way to maintain legal stability)

Panhellenic decree

Maybe 449? Maybe not. Came after the Peace of Callias, addresses concern of Delian League because there was no more "original" purpose. Discusses the following: post-war world. reconstruction of the temples destroyed by Persians (oath of Plataea). clear sea of piracy. pay votive offering to the Gods

Pritany and epistates

Prytany (Im 95% sure this is what he meant) one-tenth of the year in which members run in council. Each day one of the Prytaneis was picked by lot to serve as foreman = the EPISTATES. He remained on duty 24 hours (with one-third of the Prytaneis). No one could be foreman more than once. PRYTANEIS means "Presidents". i.e. the 50 citizens of one tribe in charge of the state for one month. The prytaneis were on duty every day. Special building: the tholos, in the Agora. The council of 500 met in the Bouleuterion, also in the agora

The aparche

The Aparchai (First-Fruits) and Dekatai (Tithes) were two concepts of tribute that pervaded Ancient greek culture. These tributes were an old tradition and were intended to be paid to the gods, but in the times of Imperial Athenian history, the tributes went directly to the Athenian treasury known as the hellenotamiai. Every member of the Delian League owed one sixtieth of its total income to Athens and each payment would be presented to Athena before ending up in the hellenotamiai. The total sum of all tributes was known as the Phoros.

Artemisium (480 BC)

The battle of Artemisium was a series of naval skirmishes fought during the second Persian war. The battle was fought during the famous battle of Thermopylae and was part of a larger plan to cut off the Persians on land at the pass of Thermopylae, and at sea, on the straits of Artemisium. On route to the battle, much of Xerxes' forces were lost at sea, but the remaining ships engaged in a battle with the Greek allied forces which caused heavy losses on either side. Ultimately, the battle proved indecisive, and because the Allies were counting on Leonidas and his Spartans protecting the pass longer than they did, the remaining naval forces retreated to the waters outside Salamis.

The phoros

They could be paid in either ships or money, and while the Aparchai was initially voluntary, it eventually became compulsory. For a time the Phoros was utilized to finance conflicts with the Persians, a noble and uncontroversial expenditure, but once it was used to finance the Peloponnesian war, the tribute became much more contentious among league members.

Isegoria

is a Greek term for freedom of speech, having a connotation that the ability to speak freely comes as a direct consequence of a country having total political equality.

The Old Oligarch

is the author attributed to a treatise on the Athenian constitution entitled "On the Athenian State." While it was recorded by Xenophon, most historians agree it was probably written by another unknown figure. It is believed that the author of the treatise was an "old oligarch" because of the attitude expressed in the treaty. The author details the functions of the Athenian constitution, but also outlines its many flaws. The Old Oligarch acknowledges that the Athenian system is well suited for certain purposes, such as its ability to support Athens as a naval power, advance democratic interests, and benefit the common man. However, the Old Boomer also complains that the Athenian system encourages immorality and does little to promote social harmony.

The burning of Sardis

was a minor success for the Greeks during the Ionian Revolt, and despite being followed by a retreat and a defeat at Ephesus, helped to spread the revolt to Byzantium, the Hellespont and Caria. In 499 the Ionian cities rebelled against Persian rule, led by Aristagoras of Miletus. The rebels overthrew the Persian-supported tyrants, appointed generals, and then attempted to find allies in Athens. Aristagores travelled to Greece, where he was turned down by the Spartans. He had more success in Athens, which agreed to send twenty ships (nearly half of its fleet at that time). Eretria also sent five ships to repay a debt to Miletus. This limited assistance arrived in Ionian in the spring of 498.

Sestos

was an ancient city in Thrace. It was located at the Thracian Chersonese peninsula on the European coast of the Hellespont, opposite the ancient city of Abydos, and near the town of Eceabat in Turkey. In Greek mythology, Sestos is presented in the myth of Hero and Leander as the home of Hero.