Background and Rise
Who was Xerxes' mother?
Atossa
Why was the satrap system useful?
- better management because admin becomes easier
- allows for the rewarding of subordinates
[by common consensus]
Who gave away the location of the secret passage to the Persians during the battle of Thermopylae?
Ephialtes
Name one problem we have with Herodotus
[common consensus]
Name one Persian king before Xerxes.
Darius
Cyrus
Cambyses
Name one of Xerxes' economic policies.
Answers could include:
- introduced the cubit as a unit of measurement
- maintained the tribute system
- maintained currency (e.g. the daric)
What was the purpose of the hall of 100 columns?
It was meant to be the 'throne room' and the place Xerxes greeted (intimidated) dignitaries
Name one battle Xerxes participated in in the Greek Wars.
Artemesium
Thermopylae
Salamis
[not plataea since it was after he left]
Name the source we have that is authored by Aeschylus. 100 points for the type of source, 200 for the name.
Aeschylus wrote The Persians, a play
Why was it important that Xerxes be chosen as the crown prince over his older half brother? (extra 100 points for naming that older brother)
It was because he was a son of Atossa OR because he was the eldest born after Darius became king
Older brother: Artobazanes
Name one way Xerxes treated Egypt or Babylon after revolts.
[by common consensus]
How did Xerxes use his building program to provide water to Persepolis, despite it being located in the desert? [200 points]
What evidence do we have that this building program was successful? [300 points]
He built the irrigation canals from Mount Athos to Persepolis.
It was successful because of the pollen samples in the dirt that was captured in drill cores, containing plants tht aren't endemic to the Persepolis region
Who was the Spartan naval commander at the battles of Artemesium and Salamis?
Extra 100 points for the name of the Athenian commander
Eurybiades
Themistocles
Herodotus