First published at 19:56 UTC on December 4th, 2022.
Lecture 17: This lecture opens our discussion of the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480–479 B.C.E., when Darius’ son Xerxes moved by land and by sea against Greece. The lecture begins by summarizing the aftermath of Marathon up to Darius’ deat…
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Lecture 17: This lecture opens our discussion of the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480–479 B.C.E., when Darius’ son Xerxes moved by land and by sea against Greece. The lecture begins by summarizing the aftermath of Marathon up to Darius’ death, then describes the beginnings of Xerxes’ reign and his decision to continue his father’s campaign against Greece. Next, the lecture summarizes Herodotus’ description of the Persian king’s preparations for the invasion of Greece, discusses Herodotus’ account of the size and composition of Xerxes’ army, and compares Herodotus’ figures to the views of modern historians.
The lecture also details some of the narrative methods by which Herodotus focuses attention on the important symbolic or emotional elements of his account, including his use of Homeric themes and echoes. Finally, the lecture outlines the preparations of the Greeks, especially the Spartans and the Athenians, to meet the Persian threat and describes the formation of the Hellenic League.
Essential Reading:
Herodotus, Book VII.1–174.
Supplementary Reading:
Burn, Persia and the Greeks, Ch. 16.
Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 4, pp. 518–545.
Cook, Persian Empire, Ch. 11.
Green, The Greco-Persian Wars, Part II.
Hignett, Xerxes’ Invasion of Greece, Appendix I.
Sealey, History of the Greek City-States, Ch. 8, pp. 195–208.
Lecture 18: https://www.bitchute.com/video/B1lpD8d7esaB/
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