§-Quick questions
NSWAncient HistorySection II (Ancient Societies): Persia in the time of Darius and Xerxes
Quick questions on Persian social and political organisation: HSC Ancient History
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the Great King?Show answer
Darius I seized the throne in 522 BC after killing the Magus Gaumata, who had usurped power claiming to be Cambyses' brother Bardiya. Darius justified his accession in the Behistun (Bisitun) Inscription, a trilingual (Old Persian, Elamite, Babylonian) text carved high on a cliff face in western Iran, which repeatedly credits Ahura Mazda for his victory and brands his rivals followers of "the Lie" (drauga). The king's role was framed as guardian of arta, truth and right cosmic order, not merely a political or military office.
What are no dates, no historians?Show answer
A response that cannot place events precisely (522 BC, 518 BC, 486 BC) or name at least one modern historian's position will not reach the top band, however fluent the prose.
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