HSC Ancient History Assessment Task 1 Greek World 500 - 400BC

Evaluate how historians have presented the role, influence, and significance of the individual selected.

Mardonius was the respected son - in - law and representative of King Darius the Great. He was the commander of the Persian troops during twp expeditions to Greece in 492 and 480/479 BCE. Modern and Ancient Historians portray Mardonius' role as following the instructions set out to him by Darius, as his successor, and contributing as a commander for a number of Persian expeditions. He also played the role of a strategic thinker and leader and is portrayed as significant for his many efforts at battle and as a Persian Superior. Mardonius was motivated and influenced by his predecessors including Darius, and he himself was considered an advisor and was also influential.

As special representative of King Darius the Great, Mardonius was given the role of reorganising the region and was sent to Lydia after the revolt of the Ionian Greeks.

English: Detail of the Alexander Mosaic, represent...

Darius Songaila

An aerial view of an interchange on the Attiki Odo...

As Ancient Historian Herodotus explains, he played his role in a very moderate way.

"Mardonius sailed along the coast of Asia and came to Ionia. I shall now relate a thing that

will be a great Marvel to the Greeks: Mardonius deposed all the sole rulers of the Ionians

and established democracies in the cities".

This was significant as a matter of politics as it enabled the people of these cities to have a say.

Having reorganised Ionia, Mardonius' navy made for the Hellespont, where an army joined it. As Herodotus tells us, "Darius superseded all his other generals and sent Mardonius, the son of Gobryas, to the coast in command of a very large force, both military and naval." His role was to win over the Greek island of Thasos and this was significant, as it became...