Part I:
This assignment explores Herodotus’ description of Persia and the Persians. Let’s remember that most of what historians know about the Persians comes from Greek sources first Herodotus and later Thucydides. After Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Achaemenid Empire the region’s culture was a mix of Greek and Persian influences. Thus, we have very little documentation from the Persia perspective in the Achaemenid period.
Step 1:Read Herodotus Description of Persia and the Persians. Click here:Herodotus on the Persians.docx
Step 2:Answer one of the following questions. Use two appropriate secondary sources to research the Greek relationship with the Achaeminid Empire.
Again, one of these can be the textbook. The second should come from thelibrary's databases.
1. Why is problematic to have mostly Greeks sources about Persia?
2. How Herodotus describe the Persians? Can you noticed a bias in Herodotus description?
3. Why have the Persians received such little attention in history books?
Step 3:Write a 200-300 word paper summarizing your research.
Use a word processor (like Microsoft Word) to write your report. Make sure toproperly citeany research used.
Step 4:Save and post your report.
Once you have completed the assignment, save a copy for yourself in an easily accessible place. Post a copy of your report to the discussion board.
Part II:
Answer the following questions
1.Which were the causes of the Persian Wars?
2.In what ways did Alexander of Macedon both destroy and preserve elements of the Achaemenid empire?
3.What was the Hellenistic world? What was new about its culture?
4.How did the Parthians come to control the Persian empire?
5.Why should the Middle East and Mediterranean Europe during the period the period 600 BCE-600 CE be studied as a single unit?
Part III:
Respond to the post below:
Much of the information that we have today about the ancient Persians comes from Greek sources. There are issues with obtaining most of the information about early Persian culture from Greek sources. Some of the information could have been written based on observation only or the information could have been biased. The information could have been obtained from observations from Greek onlookers. The information can be deemed as inaccurate or unbelievable. If the information is about the early Persian culture but is written from Greek sources, the information can be hard to believe. It can be hard for people reading the information to get a clear image of the Persian culture if it is not obtained from actual Persian sources. Herodotus’s opinion of the Persian culture is written in great detail, however, it is also hard to believe. He compares the Persian culture directly to the Greeks several times. Furthermore, he states that he isn’t familiar to all Persian culture. It is hard to believe Herodotus’s writing about the Persian culture. It is hard to believe most of the information that we have of the Persian culture today since most of it is derived of Greek sources. It is difficult and problematic to have mostly Greek sources about ancient Persian culture.
Sources:
“Ancient History Sourcebook: Herodotus: On The Customs of the Persians, c. 430 BCE.” Internet History Sourcebooks, legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/herodotus-persians.asp.
Carnagie, Julie L. "Classical Greek Civilization: 800–323 BCE: Politics, Law, and the Military." UXL World Eras, vol. 3: Classical Greek Civilization: 800–323 BCE, UXL, 2016, pp. 27-57. Gale In Context: Middle School, https://hs1.farmingdale.edu:2157/apps/doc/CX3629700039/MSIC?u=sunyfarm_main&sid=MSIC&xid=841a0271. Accessed 7 Oct. 2019.