Herodotus

• Barbarism is an invention that allows people to feel superior over others
• The Persians were not barbaric, but rather civilised
• The Persians were barbaric because they did not worship the same gods as the Greeks, had different customs and spoke a different language.
• Herodotus was writing at a time when Greek culture was becoming more sophisticated and self-conscious about its own identity
• Why does Xerxes burn the acropolis?

  The Athenians had burnt Persepolis and helped a Persian Satrap revolt.
• Medising

  To ally with Persia
• Who did the Spartans ally themselves with in the Peloponnesian War?

  The Persians.
• Why did the Peloponnesian War begin?

  Sparta didn't like that Athens was clearly building an empire, and wanted them to stop.
• Which war was Herodotus writing during?

  The Peloponnesian War.