Ancient History - The Persian Empire under Darius the Great

What immediate issue did Darius face upon taking the throne in 522 BCE?

Revolts across the empire due to instability and the hope for freedom

What happened in Babylon?

Nidintu Bel proclaimed himself king of Babylon. With Darius’ army in Media, they crossed the Tigris and defeated the Babylonians twice, capturing and impaling Nidintu Bel. The next year they put down another rebellion.

What happened in Elam?

Assina proclaimed himself King of Elam but the Elamites extradited him under orders. Darius personally killed him

What happened in Media?

Darius and the Median rebels led by Phraortes met and were defeated. Phraortes tried to flee but was captured, mutilated and crucified. His relative also continued to rebel before meeting the same fate.

What occured in the final revolts?

Margiana was defeated, Gobryas (Darius’ father in law) defeated Elamite insurrectionists, Otanes replaced the satrap of Lydia who was becoming independent, Samos joined the empire directly and Scythians recieved a new king

How did Darius link to Cyrus and build his legitimacy?

By claiming they were both descended from Teispes and marrying two of Cyrus’ daughters

Which god did Darius elevate massively?

Ahuramazda, mentioned 60 times in the Bisitun Inscription while the “other gods” are mentioned once

How did Darius fuse politics and religion?

He created the idea of arta (truth, him and his followers) and drauga (lie, Smerdis and the rebel monarchs and their followers)

How did Darius politically reorganise the empire?

Developed the satrapy system, running from Susa, Pasargadae, Persepolis and Ecbatana and monitored satraps with the “King’s Eyes/Ears”

What new city did Darius build?

Persepolis/Parsa

What other building innovations did Darius make?

The Darius Canal from the Nile to the Red Sea, and the royal roads. He also developed an irrigation system for Egyptian crops.

What is significant about how the different people bringing tribute are presented on the Bisitun Inscription?

They are all shown equally with lots of different groups from across the empire

How did Darius integrate parts of Greece into the empire?

He asked for earth and water, symbolic of submission, although they didn’t fully join until 492. He also added Lemos and Imbros.

How did he expand towards India?

In 500 BCE, he sent Scylax to explore the Indus Valley. The Bisitun Inscription lacks Indians, but shows them in later sources from 500 onwards.

How did he fight the Scythians?

He invaded Europe towards Scythia and Thrace where the Scythians used their archers and moved around heavily, splitting up and attacking. Darius was frustrated and retreated in struggle.

What caused the Ionian Revolt in 499?

Aristagoras (acting tyrant of Miletus) convinced the Persians to go on a campaign in the Aegean but it failed. Fearing a lack of support due to divisions, he switched sides to Greece. He enticed his allies to do the same and Athens provided 20 ships and Eretria 5.

Why did Athens dislike Persia?

Athens had expelled their tyrant and this led to conflict with Sparta. Athens asked for Persian help but earth and water was refused. Hippas aligned with Persia. Athens told them to ignore Hippas’ calls for reconquering Athens, Persia ordered them to take him back and Athens refused.

What did the Greek force first do?

Attack and burn Sardis, but they were then defeated at the coast and Athens withdrew support. The rebellion spread to Ionia and Cyprus, but sieges in Cyprus led to the recapture of many cities.

What did Persia do in response?

Send three armies. They were successful but two of the generals died, and Aristagoras ended his career in 496, being killed in Thrace soon after.

How did the revolt end?

Histiaeus (uncle of Aristagoras and the de jure tyrant) came back and asked the Persians to send him to resolve matters but he then switched sides. In 494, they fought at Lade and the Persians eventually defeated them, sacking Miletus

How did the Persians respond?

Sacked Greek sanctuaries, and hunted down island populations in 493 to find rebels (while also enslaving children),

How did the Persians change the policy to address the issues?

Artaphernes (the satrap Aristagoras fell out with) created a new system to fairly deal with disputes and management more effectively. Mardonius was sent to punish Greece but instead introduced new regimes, later allowing Xerxes to take mercenaries in 480.

What happened in Mardonius’ expedition in 492?

The fleet was wrecked but he did force Thasos and Macedonia to submit

How did the Greek states react to Darius asking for support from them?

Most accepted but Athens threw the heralds into a pit for criminals and Sparta threw them down a well

What did Persia do in 490?

Invaded Greece again, burning the island of Naxos, but leaving offerings for Apollo and Artemis in their birthplace of Delos, capturing Eretria, and then finally arriving in Attica, specifically at Marathon

How many Greeks were stationed at Marathon?

9,000 Athenians and 1,000 Plateans. The Spartans were going to join but could not due to a festival.

How did Miltiades defeat the Persians?

He thinned out the centre and reinforced the wings before routing the Persians and partially encircling them. They fled unaware of the local terrain with many drowning in the swamps. They tried taking their ships but many left.

What did the Persians do and what was the result?

Tried to sail to Athens, but they were defeated by the army who marched 26 miles. Darius was enraged but delayed by a rebellion in Egypt, and he died in 486 before he could either crush Egypt or reconquer Greece.