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3 The Ionian Revolt: Introduction The Greek world was not limited to the area which we call Greece today. Many Greek people lived in modern day Turkey. They were known as the Ionians. The Ionians were very close to the Athenians, who were regarded as their mother city. In the 7th Century BC Athens had sent out some people to create colonies. This meant that they shared many cultures and ideas as the Athenians. The Ionians were also very important in the development of Greek thought. Herodotus, the historian, on whom we rely for much of our information about this period came from an Ionian island (Halicarnassus). to move away from living under a tyrant, and the individual citizens were beginning to take power for themselves. The development of democracy in Athens may have had an effect on the peoples of Ionia. The Ionians may have wanted to get rid of their tyrant as well. They may have thought that it was time to rule themselves. Persian Control The Persians controlled Ionia. They taxed the Ionians and also asked them to provide soldiers to fight for Darius. After the Ionian revolt, the Ionians were made to fight against the Greeks when Darius planned to invade Greece. Democracy in Athens In 508 BC Cleisthenes made changes to Athens government. He helped create Whilst the people themselves may have wished democracy. Every male citizen had a vote on to rebel. Herodotus says that Aristagoras and each matter of policy. The Athenians had begun Histiaeus encouraged the Ionians to rebel. Three Forms of Government In Greece there were three main forms of government. These were used in different states at different times. Tyranny In the Sixth Century, many states in Greece were governed by a single ruler or tyrant (king). Most tyrants were very harsh. Some like Polycrates of Samos and Peisistratus of Athens improved their cities. Democracy Democracy literally means ‘people’s power’ (demos – people; kratos – power). The people have the power. In Athens this meant that the Assembly of all male citizens over 18 had the ultimate power: they approved all decisions, and officials were either elected or chosen by lot. Oligarchy A small group of usually wealthy people take political power. The mass of the people is not in power. Herodotus 3.80-83 recounts a debate in Persia which discusses these three forms of government. This is well worth reading for a fuller understanding of these concepts. TASK 1C 1. Explain what is meant by each of the following: (a) tyranny; (b) democracy; (c) oligarchy 2. Describe two possible causes of the Ionian Revolt. Outline of the Revolt In 499BC the inhabitants of Ionia decided to rebel. The rebellion began on the island of Naxos. They decided to remove the oligarchy which controlled them. Aristagoras fails to destroy Naxos. The oligarchs went to the tyrant of Miletus, Aristagoras, to ask for help. Aristagoras went to the Persians for help. He asked the tyrant of Sardis to send 200 ships to destroy Naxos. Megabates, the leader of the ships argued with Aristagoras and he warned the Ionians he was going to attack. This allowed the people of Naxos to prepare and they survived the siege for four months. Aristagoras organises a revolt This stopped Aristagoras taking control of Naxos and his reputation was damaged with the Persians. Aristagoras then persuaded the rest of the Ionians to revolt against the Persians. He said he would bring democracy to the peoples of Ionia. Aristagoras began by resigning his position as tyrant of Miletus and he convinced other tyrants to resign as well. He went to Sparta to ask for help, but the Spartans were not interested. describes these ships as the ‘beginning of troubles between Greeks and barbarians’: in his account the Athenian decision to help in this way brought Athens into conflict with Persia for the first time, and led to Darius’ desire to take vengeance on them. The destruction of Sardis Aristagoras led an army of Athenians and Ionians to attack Sardis. They destroyed the city. This angered Darius. One of his important cities had been destroyed by the Athenians and he wanted revenge. The revolt continued and many other cities killed their Persian masters. But it did not last and the Persians slowly began to take control again. Aristagoras fled to Thrace. The revolt fails The rebellion came to an end shortly afterwards when in 494BC, the Persians laid siege to Miletus and destroyed the Ionian fleet of 353 ships. The rebellion was over. The Persians were back in control. They made one concession, however: they established democracies in Ionia. He then visited Athens, and the Athenians agreed to send twenty ships. Herodotus TASK 1D 1. Look at a map of Greece and the Ionian coast and identify: Athens, Eretria, Miletus, Thrace and Sardis. State briefly what happened in each place. 2. Briefly outline the Ionian revolt. 3. Explain two reasons why the Ionians rebelled.