Early Civilisations
What civilisation lived on the island of Crete?
Minoans
Which Greek city-state helped support the Ionian Revolt?
Athens
Who led the Persian expedition in 492 BCE?
Mardonius
What was ostracism in ancient Athens?
A process where citizens could vote to exile someone for 10 years.
What does the term “Medism” mean?
Greeks siding with the Persians.
What was one important feature of Minoan civilisation?
A. Heavy focus on warfare
B. Maritime trade and sea travel
C. Building pyramids
D. Democracy
B
Explain two challenges the Persian Empire may have faced when ruling such a large empire.
The Persian Empire ruled many different cultures and territories, making communication difficult. It may also have been hard to control rebellions and ensure people continued paying taxes to the king.
What was one goal of Mardonius’ expedition?
To punish Athens and Eretria or expand Persian control
Who was Themistocles?
An important Athenian leader who supported building a strong navy.
Why did the Greeks choose to defend Thermopylae?
The narrow pass reduced the Persian number advantage.
What was the name of the writing system linked to the Minoans?
Linear A
Describe why some Greek city-states in Ionia disliked Persian rule.
Many Greek city-states disliked Persian rule because they had lost the ability to govern themselves freely, had to pay taxes to Persia, and felt their Greek identity was threatened.
What major problem did the Persian fleet face at Mount Athos?
A violent storm destroyed many ships.
What did Themistocles want to do with the silver from Laurium?
Use it to build 200 triremes.
What happened to Athens before the Battle of Salamis?
The Persians burned and destroyed the city.
What is the MOST popular theory for the fall of the Minoans?
A. A plague destroyed the civilisation
B. The Romans invaded Crete
C. The Theran volcano weakened Crete and allowed Mycenaean invasion
D. They moved away from Crete willingly
C. The Theran volcano weakened Crete and allowed Mycenaean invasion
Who was Herodotus, and why is he important to the study of the Persian Wars?
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who wrote about the Persian Wars. He is important because his writings provide one of the main historical accounts of the conflict, although historians question some parts of his reliability.
Why was the Battle of Marathon important for the Greeks? Was it successful or unsuccessful?
The Greeks defeated the Persians and protected Athens.
Why was the Hellenic League formed in 481 BCE?
Greek city-states united to defend themselves against Persia.
How did Themistocles trick Xerxes before the Battle of Salamis?
Answer: He sent a false message claiming the Greeks were retreating.
How were the Mycenaeans DIFFERENT from the Minoans?
The Mycenaeans focused more on warfare and invasions
Compare the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire in terms of size, organisation, and political structure.
The Persian Empire was very large, wealthy, and ruled by kings such as Darius I. In contrast, the Greeks lived in smaller independent city-states that often competed with each other. Persia had a more centralised system of rule, while Greek city-states governed themselves separately.
How did the outcomes of Mardonius’ expedition and the Battle of Marathon differ?
Mardonius successfully secured Thrace and Macedon but failed to reach Athens, while the Persians were completely defeated by the Athenians at Marathon.
How did Themistocles’ naval policy help Athens prepare for future Persian invasions?
Building triremes strengthened Athens’ navy and improved Greek defence against Persia.
Why did the geography of Salamis help the Greeks defeat the Persians?
Answer: The narrow straits caused Persian ships to crowd together, making them easier for the Greek triremes to attack.