I have created a Word document that has the HSC exam questions on Xerxes and the Persian Wars from the 2004-2007 papers. They should give you an idea of how the questions are worded, and what content area is tested. You can download or view it here.
As you can see, the breakdown is this:
Xerxes' relationships with Persians/non-Persians 2007
Xerxes' achievements as king 2007
How Xerxes became King 2006, 2004
Xerxes' attempts to expand Persia 2006, 2004
Xerxes' personal background 2005
Xerxes' building program 2005
Xerxes' impact on Greece and Persia 2005
Xerxes' influence in his lifetime 2004
Assess the importance of naval battles 2007
Assess the contribution of Miltiades and Leonidas 2006
Evaluate the contribution of Themistocles 2005
Assess the significance of two military events 2004
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i cant find the answer for this question
ReplyDeleteevluate xerxes achievement?
This is a very general question covering all of Xerxes' successes and failures as king. You should evaluate - that is, place a value on - his successes (achievements), as well as his failures. You should choose maybe six altogether. Achievements include his building program, expansion of the empire, putting down revolts, successfully administering the empire for 21 years, burning Athens, amassing an army to attack Greece, building the bridge across the Hellespont, becoming king...failures include losing the Persian Wars, being assassinated, and being remembered as a tyrant by the ancient sources. You should discuss some or all of these, and then decide whether he was a great, good, mediocre, or useless king.
ReplyDeleteHow do i answer "asses the contributions of miliaties and leonidas?>
ReplyDeleteAssess = 'make a judgement of'. So first of all, decide how and why these two men were important to the outcome of the Persian Wars. Then decide whether one was more important than the other. Then try to structure your response into four or five main points. A good way might be like this:
ReplyDelete1) Battle of Marathon - Miltiades
2) Battle of Thermopylae - Leonidas
3) Other factors - commanders such as Themistocles and Pausanias
4) Other factors - Persian weaknesses, environment, morale, technology, etc.
The essay does not restrict you to only talk about these two commanders. You can mention other factors as well, to point out that their contributions were not the only reason for the Greek victory.
Iv'e gots mine HSC triels in too weaks, hoo is Xerces?
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteWhen we are evaluting a question on xerxes. for instance
evalutate xerxes' building program, does this mean we look at positive and negative factors?if so im not really sure of the negative factors or if they are any.
I would mention pesepolis, harem, palaces h etc
Yes, evaluate means you make a judgement of the success or failure of his program ina very explicit way. You must use descriptive terms like, "his building program was completely/extremely/very/quite/relatively/not successful" and then provide evidence for that view. You must compare the success or failure to a 'yardstick' so you can measure how successful he was. For example, you might describe his aims in building Persepolis, and then compare the actual buildings to his aims. That gives some idea of how successful he was. So basically, the question is - did his building program live up to his aims, and why/why not?
ReplyDeleteIm still not sure what you mean. How would i structure each paragraph for that question?
ReplyDeleteEvaluate Xerxes building program. This would be a 15 mark question so go for a structured response with four main paragraphs, plus intro and conlcusion.
ReplyDeleteYou are evaluating so tie the building to his aims. What were his aims? To show the power of his empire. To show his wealth and prestige. To house his family and court followers. To provide an adminsitrative centre for his empire. So now you have your four paragraphs.
1) How did Persepolis show Persia's power? Give examples of buildings and reliefs that do so. (e.g. the Gate of Xerxes, the reliefs on the Apadana)
2) How did Pers. show his wealth and prestige? (e.g. the beautiful and splendid Apadana)
3) How did Pers. provide a home for his followers (e.g. harem, Palace of Xerxes, servants' quarters)
4) How did it act as an admin. centre (e.g. treasury (for collecting tribute), Apadana (for receiving visitors), Tripylon (Xerxes' decision-making space))
Describe Xerxes' aims. Then describe the elements of his building program which meet those aims. Then evaluate how successful he was. All in a structured, essay-style response.
Hi, not sure if you got my last question. But it was about the foreing policy of xerxes and how should we evaluate it?
ReplyDeleteEvaluate = define what it means to achieve in terms of foreign policy. Keeping peace? Invading and seeking revenge? Expanding the empire? Then discuss whether Xerxes achieved this criteria. You should mainly look at his invasion of Greece, the battles he fought, the raising of an army, the alliances he formed with 'medizing' Greeks such as the Thracians, Macedonians, Ionians, Cypriots...and jusge whether his foreign policy in this case was a success. Did he do what he set out to do?
ReplyDeleteQuick question, Are the last 4 dotpoints of the Xerxes syllabus, practically linked or very similar?Because im trying to write a response on each but it seems all linked
ReplyDeleteeg, assessing xerxes' reign i could also mention ancient+modern interpretations as well as the impact and legacy his reign had.so thats practically the four. is this a bad thing to do?
Exactly right. All dot points in the last section are linked to an assessment of Xerxes' achievements. A question which asks you to assess or evaluate his reign will cover all those dot points, plus all of the ones about his career as well.
ReplyDeleteIs the legacy of Xerxes also linked to his achievments?
ReplyDeleteEg, Could i say he made a legacy through things such as building program, admin.And was also known for failures such as loss in greek wars?
Legacy is anything that was left after he died - his reputation, his empire, his buildings, his policies, his family...
ReplyDelete