Reference no: EM132157932
Name:Reading guide 6: Herodotus Histories, selections from books 2-3, 5-7
Questions for book 2.1-5
Note: Book 2 of Herodotus' Histories is a digression from his description of the Persian king Cambyses' conquest of Egypt. It describes at great length the geography, climate, and customs of the Egyptians. This is only a short sample of it.
According to Herodotus, what experiment did the Egyptian king Psammetichus conduct to determine who the first people were and what were the results?
What was his source for this account? What does he think of the version told by Greek sources?
Questions for book 2.34-37
What association does Herodotus make between the Nile river, the climate of Egypt, and the customs of its people?
Questions for book 3.80-117
Note: In this section there is some graphic violence and references to sexual practices that some might find disturbing. Please be prepared in advance.
According to Herodotus, what sort of government with what sorts of features did Otanes propose the Persians adopt?
What sorts of government did Megabyzus and Darius argue the Persians should adopt?
How was Darius chosen as king, according to Herodotus?
What did Darius ask as tribute from most of the provinces of the empire, according to Herodotus?
According to Herodotus how did the Padaei of eastern India tend to their sick?
According to Herodotus, how did the Indians obtain their gold dust?
How do deadly snakes procreate according to Herodotus and why is this a good thing in his opinion?
According to Herodotus who were the most handsome and longest-lived people? How does he describe their land?
How much does Herodotus know about western Europe?
According to Herodotus, how do people of northern Europe obtain their gold?
Questions for book5.55-106
According to the beginning of this passage, what action was key to ending the tyranny in Athens?
How was Hipparchus warned of his looming fate?
How did the Alcmeonid family trick the Spartans into attempting to liberate Athens, according to Herodotus?
How did Cleisthenes prevail in his struggle against Isagoras and what changes did he make to the Athenian government?
Who did the Athenians make an alliance with to protect themselves from Cleomenes of Sparta?
Judging from chapter 78, what opinion did Herodotus have of Athens after the establishment of democracy there?
Why did the Spartans fear Athens and who did they want to restore to power there?
Why did Darius become obsessed with the Athenians, according to Herodotus?
Questions for book 6.102-118
Why did Hippias think he would regain power over Athens and how did he realize itwouldn't happen?
Summarize how Miltiades describes the importance of the looming battle to Callimachus.
What opinion does Herodotus have of the Athenian performance in battle at Marathon?
What happened to Epizelus in the battle? What is Herodotus' source for the story of Epizelus?
Questions for book 7.139-144
Summarize Herodotus' "unpopular" opinion in section 139.
According to Herodotus how did the Athenian ambassadors interpret the response from Delphi at first?
According to Herodotus how did Themistocles interpret the second response the Athenians received from the oracle?