Full Personalities In Their Times Notes

Personalities In Their Times; The Near East; Xerxes SURVEY o Expansion of the Persian Empire o An overview of religion in the Persian Empire o Persian concept of kingship FOCUS OF STUDY o Family background and status o Succession to Kingship o Administration of the Persian Empire o Revolts in the empire: Egypt, Babylon o Religious policy o Building program: Persepolis o Foreign policy: role in the invasion of the Greek mainland o Images and representations of Xerxes as king o Relationship with prominent Persians and non-Persians o Manner and impact of his death o Impact and influence on his time o Assessment of his life and reign o Legacy o Ancient and modern images and interpretations of Xerxes o The value and limitations of the source o An evaluation of the source in the context of other available sources, including problems of evidence