The Persian Wars
In 519 BC Darius I ascended the throne of the expanding empire of
Persia. A group of people called the Ionians, lived along the coast of Asia
Minor. They were under Persian rule, having been conquered by Emperor
Cyrus (ruled 550-530 BC), and at this time were unhappy about their
conditions.
In 499 BC Aristagoras, the leader Miletus, one of the city-states,
organized a revolt of all the rest of the city-states along the coast. Darius
managed however, to subdue things in a five-year campaign. After this
long sought victory, Darius became bent on revenge against Athens…
