Herodotus Book I

I. Introduction of theme and purpose, including causes of war

II. Croesus of Lydia: first to conquer Greeks in Asia

    A. Flashback: Lydian history before Croesus
        1. Heraclids
        2. Caudaules and Gyges
        3. Mermnadae (chronological order)
            a. Gyges    b. Ardys    c. Sadyattes
            d. Alyattes: war with Milesians
                i. Burning of temple
                ii. Consultation of oracle
                iii. Thrasybulus king of Miletus warned by Periander
                         Story of Arion and the dolphin
                iv. Conclusion (of war and Alyattes' reign)
    B. Croesus' accomplishments: conquest of or alliance with Greek states
        1. Solon's visit
            a. Tellus of Athens    b. Cleobis and Biton    c. The moral
        2. Nemesis: Atys and Adrastus
            a. Adrastus' story    b. The boar hunt    c. Divine causation
    C. War on Persia
        1. Oracles
        2. Digression on the Greek states
            a. General remarks on Dorians, Ionians, Pelasgians
            b. Athens: history, Pisistratus to dramatic present
                i. Hippocrates and the omen    ii. Peisistratus' three seizures of power
             c. Sparta: history, Lycurgus to dramatic present
              i. Lycurgus    ii. War with Tegea, and bones of Orestes
            d. Croesus' alliance with Sparta
        3. The invasion of Cappadocia
            a. Sandanis' advice (cf. end of Book IX)
            b. Brief history of Cappadocia, with geography of Asia Minor
            c. Causes
                i. Oracle (misleading)
                ii. Family ties with Astyages, deposed king of Medes
                        History of Scythians
                        War with Medes
                         Eclipse (Thales) Alliance
            d. The march of invasion
                 i. River-crossing (Thales)    ii. Devastation
            e. Cyrus' response
                 i. Overtures to Ionian Greeks    ii. Drawn battle
        4. Croesus' retreat
            a. Sends for reinforcements (Egypt, Babylon, Lacedaemon)
            b. Disbands mercenaries
            c. Portents
            d. Cyrus cheats
                i. Battle
                ii. Siege
                    Croesus calls for help
                    Digression on Thyreae: battles with Argos    Preparations too late
                    End of siege
                    Meles story    Observation by Hyroaedes
        5. The end
            a. Miracle 1: the dumb son
            b. Fulfillment of Delphic oracle
            c. Miracle 2: salvation of Croesus (Solon)
            d. Croesus and Cyrus
                i. Good advice
                ii. Confronting the oracle
                iii. Postscript on Croesus' offerings
        6. Geography and ethnography of Lydia

III. Cyrus

    A. Introduction of topic (questions)
    B. Ancient history: Medes
        1. Deioces
            a. Rise to power    b. Arrangements
        2. Phraortes
        3. Cyaxares
            a. Nineveh    b. Scythians
        4. Astyages
    C. Cyrus' birth and salvation; upbringing
        1. Mandane, Cambyses, and dreams    2. Harpagus and the herdsman
        3. Recognition    4. Revolt
    D. Persian customs
    E. Persian takeover of Ionia
        1. Greek cities ask Sparta for help
        2. Digression on Ionians
            a. Climate    b. Lack of political unity/power
            c. Migrations & divisions of Achaea    d. Pretensions
        3. Digression on Aeolians
                Digression on loss of Smyrna
        4. Embassy to Sparta: Lacedaemonians warn Cyrus
        5. Subjugation of Asian Greeks
            a. Revolt of Pactyes and Lydians: change of customs
            b. Pactyes as suppliant; repercussions
            c. Campaigns of Harpagus
                i. Digression: Phocaean migration and fate in the west
                ii. Migration of Teans
                iii. Defeat of Greek cities
        6. Persian campaign vs. others in Asia Minor
            a. Digressions on history of these peoples:
                i.  Carians    ii. Caunians    iii. Lycians
            b. Takeover of
                i. Carians    ii. Lycians    iii. Caunians
    F. Cyrus' conquests
        1. Cyrus and Assyria
            a. History and building of Babylon, Semiramis and Nitocris
            b. Punishing the Gyndes river
            c. Capture of Babylon    Wealth
            d. Assyrian agriculture, river-travel, customs
        2. Cyrus and the Massagetae
            a. Geography
            b. The campaign: Cyrus' defeat and death
                    Foreshadowing: Cyrus' dream about Darius
            c. Customs of the Massagetae

Herodotus Book V

I. Persians in Europe under Megabazus begin hostilities vs. Greeks in Thrace

    A. Perinthians
            Perinthians vs. Paeonians
    B. Other cities in Thrace
    C. Thracian population, customs
    D. Country north of Thrace
    E. Darius at Sardis
        1. Rewards Histiaeus and Coes
        2. Paeonians transferred
    F. Megabazus sends to Macedonia
            Alexander and the Persian envoys
    G. Megabazus in Asia
        1. Delivers Paeonians
        2. Warning about Histiaeus
        3. Otanes' conquests

II. Trouble in Ionia

    A. Naxos and Miletus
        1. Digression: Miletus and Paros
        2. Naxian exiles apply for help
        3. Aristagoras and Artaphernes make a deal
            a. Aristagoras fails
            b. Histiaeus' envoy arrives
            c. Decision to rebel
    B. Steps to aid rebellion
        1. Getting rid of tyrants in Greek cities
        2. Sending for allies
    C. Sparta
        1. Background: Cleomenes now king
            a. Cleomenes' birth (Anaxandrides' wives)
            b. History of Cleomenes' brother Dorieus
                i. Sybaris and Croton
                ii. End of Dorieus
        2. Aristagoras at Sparta
            a. Discussion
            b. The map
            c. Cleomenes avoids bribery
            d. Digression on royal road
    D. Athens
        1. Background
            a. Liberation from Pisistratids
                i. Murder of Hipparchus
                    Digression: origin of Gephyraei
                        Phoenician writing
                            introduction into Greece
                            survival in inscriptions
                ii. Hippias
                    Alcmaeonids bribe Delphic oracle
                    Spartans drive out Hippias
                        Anchimolius' failed attempt
                        Cleomenes' success
                        Peisistratid genealogy
            b. Remarkable Athenian deeds (510-499 BCE)
                i. Cleisthenes vs. Isagoras
                    Cleisthenes' reforms
                        His grandfather Cleisthenes at Sicyon
                        Other reforms
                    Cleomenes and Isagoras
                        Curse on Alcmaeonids
                            Origin of curse
                    Cleomenes driven out
                        Recall of Alcmaeonids
                    Abortive alliance with Persia
                ii. Cleomenes' invasion of Attica
                    Boeotian attack on Attica
                    Cleomenes vs. Demaratus
                    Athenians defeat Boeotians
                    Observations on the value of freedom
                iii. Alliance of Thebes and Aegina vs. Athens
                    Origin of Athenian/Aeginetan hatred
                iv. New trouble for Sparta
                    Discovery (Delphi)
                    Recall of Hippias by Spartans
                    Desire to destroy growing power of Athens (foreshadowing)
                    Protest by Corinth
                        Story of Cypselus and Periander
                    Hippias' prediction (foreshadowing)
                    Disbanding the allied army
                    Hippias goes to Darius' court
            c. Aristagoras persuades the Athenians
                Beginning of the evils
    E. Aristagoras in Asia
        1. Paeonians go home
        2. Allied Greek invasion
            a. Burning of Sardis
            b. Retreat of Athenians
        3. Remainder of war in Ionia
            a. Caunus
            b. Cyprus
            c. Darius
                i. Shoots the arrow
                ii. Sends Histiaeus to the coast
            d. Persians retain Cyprus
                i. Sea battle
                ii. Land battle
                    Onesilus vs. Artybius
            e. Hellespont
            f. Caria
    F. Flight and Death of Aristagoras
 


Last updated: 23 September 2003
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