Origins of the Persian Wars
What was the name of the Greek-populated region of Asia Minor that came under Persian control?
Ionia
In what year was the Battle of Marathon fought?
490 BC
Which Athenian politician became the leading advocate for expanding Athens’ navy?
Themistocles
Which Spartan king commanded the Greek force at Thermopylae?
Leonidas
Was Artemisium primarily a land or naval battle?
Naval
What revolt against Persian rule began in 499 BC?
The Ionian Revolt
Which Athenian general played the leading role in developing the Greek strategy at Marathon?
Miltiades
What valuable resource discovered at Laurion helped Athens finance its new fleet?
Silver
Why was Thermopylae selected as the location for the Greek defence?
Its narrow pass restricted the Persians’ numerical advantage.
Which Spartan commander held overall command of the Greek fleet at Artemisium?
Eurybiades
Which Ionian city was the main centre of the revolt against Persia?
Miletus
Which exiled former tyrant of Athens accompanied the Persian expedition and advised the Persians?
Hippias
Approximately how many triremes did Athens construct as part of Themistocles’ naval program?
About 200 triremes
Which Greek betrayed the defenders by revealing a route around the pass to the Persians?
Ephialtes
Which Athenian leader played a major role in the Greek naval strategy at Artemisium?
Themistocles
Which two mainland Greek poleis sent assistance to the Ionian rebels?
Athens and Eretria
What tactical decision by Miltiades helped the Athenians surround the Persian forces at Marathon?
He strengthened the Greek wings while deliberately weakening the centre.
What political process was used to exile several of Themistocles’ political rivals from Athens during the 480s BC?
Ostracism
Why did Leonidas dismiss most of the Greek forces after learning that the Persians had found a route around the pass?
He recognised that the Greek position was about to be surrounded and allowed most of the army to withdraw, while a smaller force remained to delay the Persian advance.
What natural disaster destroyed a significant number of Persian ships near Cape Sepias before and during the Artemisium campaign?
A severe storm
At which naval battle in 494 BC did the Persians decisively defeat the Ionian fleet?
The Battle of Lade
How did Miltiades persuade the polemarch Callimachus to vote to attack the Persians?
Miltiades argued that Athens’ future depended on Callimachus’ decision, warning that if they delayed, divisions among the Athenians could lead to betrayal or submission to Persia, while victory would preserve Athenian freedom and bring Callimachus great honour.
What alliance of Greek poleis was formed in 481 BC to organise resistance to Xerxes’ invasion?
The Hellenic League
Apart from the 300 Spartans, name two Greek groups that remained with Leonidas during the final stand.
The Thespians and Thebans
Why did the Greek fleet withdraw from Artemisium despite avoiding a decisive defeat at sea?
The fall of Thermopylae meant the land position was lost, making continued defence at Artemisium strategically unnecessary/dangerous.