Xerxes I

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/xerxes-i

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the full name?Xerxes I (Old Persian: Xšayāršā)
2. What is the dynasty?Achaemenid
3. Who was Xerxes I and when did he become king?Xerxes I was a king of the Persian Empire. He became king in 486 BCE, taking over after his father Darius I.
4. What big project did Xerxes build to cross the Hellespont?Xerxes built a 1.2-kilometer pontoon bridge made of hundreds of ships. It let his huge army cross the water safely.

Achaemenid Dynasty: The ruling family of the first Persian Empire, known for its vast territorial extent and sophisticated administration.
Hellespont: A vital ancient strait connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, strategically important for military movements.
Delian League: An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens after the Persian Wars, which eventually became an Athenian empire.
Historiography: The study of the writing of history, including how historical accounts are created and interpreted.