The consequential rise of the Athenian Empire, however, was simultaneous with the development of its increasingly autocratic and aggressive attitude. The aftermath of this conflict therefore involved the Athenian worldview coming to resemble that which it had initially sought to repress. The Persian Wars are demonstrative of how external threats can promote unity and cohesion from within. The ease and aggression with which the Persians conquered the region of the Asia Minor during the sixth century BCE established them as the pre-eminent power in the ancient world, and therefore a threat to Greek autonomy. After King Cyrus of Persia overthrew the Median rulers in 550 BCE, the Persians successfully extended their realm in conquering Lydia (546 BCE), eventually pushing their boarders further eastward by crossing to the boarders of Macedonia in 513 BCE (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2012).
The main events of the revolt fixed by Herodotus provide us with important information about Persian rule and the real reasons of Ionian revolt. At first sight, Ionian revolt was caused by the reasons, which can’t be called occasional. Ionian cities were first of all trade centers. The capture of Hellespont and Bosporus by Persians was fatal for the trade and the competition from the side of Phoenician merchants was becoming more and more threatening. Besides the economic damage, Ionian cities suffered from political pressure: in all the cities, ruled by Persians there were tyrants appointed.
The Greek army decisively defeated the more numerous Persians, marking a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC was the result of Persian revenge, after the Greek city-states of Athens and Eretria involved themselves in the Ionian Revolt from 499-493 BC. According to modern historian, Peter Green, the Persians sought to attack Athens with a fighting force of approximately 25, 000 men, of both foot soldiers and cavalry. The Athenians had to bring together their whole hoplite force to defeat the Persians. The Persian force was nearly double that of the Greeks, however due to Miltiades’ reliable expertise on Persian warfare, he was aware that the most elite soldiers would fight in the centre with the weaker ones at the wings.
It is well assumed that without the Coalition of the Greek states the Greeks could not have won the Persian war "the Greek achievement in the wars was amazing. Under the threat of Persian conquest a group of cities, many hostile to and jealous of one another, joined in a Hellenic league in order to present a united front against the invader." - Sidney Fine. Sparta’s involvement in as a founding member of the league gives good evidence to the extent of the Spartan significance in the war. “Ten years later, the battle at
It all started when King Darius decided to conquer the tiny Greek city states of mainland Greece. King Darius sent messengers to ask for presents of Greek earth and water, which would be a sign that the Greeks would accept rule by the Persians. Instead, the Greeks threw the messengers in wells and pits, and told them that was their earth and water. King Darius was furious and sent soldiers and cavalry by ship to Greece, and they assembled themselves on the plain of Marathon. Miltiades, a great general for Greece, convinced other Greek commanders that the Greeks should fight the Persians at Marathon.
Athens had trade interest in the Ionian region. So Athens encouraged the Ionians when they revolted against Persia in 499 BC. This enraged Darius and he led the 1st Greco-Persian war and was defeated in 490 BC in the battle of Marathon. His son, Xerxes led the 2nd invasion against Athens. In the meantime, the Athenians convinced the Greek city states that Persia was a serious security threat for the whole region and formed an alliance against the Persians.
The Athenian empire was heavily outnumbered by Sparta and their allies. Sparta declared war after their ally, Corinth, accused Athens of interfering in some of the Corinthian colonies. The Spartan army attacked the land surrounding Athens called Attica so Perciles, the Athenian leader, ordered the people to take refuge from the country land into Athens causing the city to become extremely cramped and low on resources. Perciles was later blamed for the losses the outlying lands from the people he ordered into the city. Perciles tactic was to avoid land battles and attack Spartan territory from the sea.
After the Death of Cyrus, his son Cambyses took power and was later succeeded by Darius the Great who was the first to step into European land, the kings of Persia all had a role in conquering more than there predecessor and that’s exactly what Darius had in mind. Consequently this had Darius order his army to capture Scythia forwarding through Thrace. The Campaign was a tragedy for the Persians; the Persians were to retreat all the way to Thrace, leaving around 80,000 soldiers with the
Alexander started his campaign for the world with 37,000 men, 5,000 of which were cavalry. The king pushed east towards Asia Minor in 334 BCE and had the first confrontation and victory against the Persian Empire at The Battle at Granicus River. By 333 BCE, the western half of Asia Minor was controlled by Alexander. At the Battle of Issus, the Persians outnumbered Alexander and his men. The numerical advantage the Persian’s had was cancelled out because the battle was on a narrow piece of land.
Christian Mejia 7/10/2013 300 In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian army in the mountain pass of Thermopylae. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. Persian King Xerxes lead a Army of well over 100,000 (Persian king Xerxes before war has about 170,000 army) men to Greece and was confronted by 300 Spartans, and several hundred Arcadians. Xerxes waited for 10 days for King Leonidas to surrender or withdraw left with no options he moved. The battle lasted for about 3 days and after which all 300 Spartans were killed.