Conquer It
In this activity you will apply what you have learned to find the central idea and summarize a source.
The following source is taken from a writing by Herodotus, a Greek historian. He is describing the interactions between the Phoenicians and the Greek peoples around the Mediterranean Sea, c. 430 B.C.E. Read the excerpt and then answer the questions below.
You may also want to download the excerpt and make notes on a printed version, or keep it handy as you complete the following activity.
The Phoenicians, who had formerly [lived] on the shores of the Persian Gulf, having migrated to the Mediterranean and settled in the parts which they now inhabit, began at once, they say, to adventure on long voyages [in] their vessels (to) … Egypt and Assyria. They landed at many places on the coast (in Greece). Here they exposed their merchandise, and traded with the natives for five or six days; at the end of this time, when almost everything was sold, there came down to the beach a number of women, and among them the daughter of the king, who was … Io, the child of Inachus. The women were standing by the stern of the ship … when the Phoenicians, with a general shout, rushed upon them. The greater part made their escape, but some were seized and carried off. Io herself was among the captives. The Phoenicians put the women on board their vessel, and set sail for Egypt. Thus did Io pass into Egypt, and thus commenced the series of outrages …
