HELLAS:NET - History

During the 7th and 6th centuries BC an important change in the political situation of the middle east took place: the Indo-European people gained power at the cost of the Semitic people. Around 700 BC the Median people managed to free themselves from the Asyrians, and they became independent. After a period of peace they decided to attack the Assyrian empire and with the help of Babylon they conquered the Assyrian capitol Niniveh in 612, which was the end of the once mighty Assyrian empire. Subsequently they marched towards the east border of little-Asia, where they entered the kingdom of Lydia, which was founded by Cyges in 685. After a bloody battle, that was ended because because of a solar eclipse, they decided that the river Halys would become the border between both kingdoms.

The dynasty of Achaemenids.

In 559 Cyrus, of the family of Achaemenids who were members of the Persian tribe, managed to form the Median tribes into one big group. Crysus proved himself to be more than a worthy leader as the power of the Median tribes, who were now known as Persians, grew with an astonishing speed, and other kingdoms were destroyed one after another. They conquered Media in 549, defeated Croessus who was king of the rich kingdom of Lydia in 546, and sacked Babylon in 538. Unfortunately Cyrus was killed during an expedition against nomadic tribes in 529, and his son Cambyses became his successor. It was rumoured that Cambyses was a very unstable person, but still he managed to conquer Egypt in 525. Polycrates of Samos, who was a personal friend of Amasis, predecessor of the defeated pharaoh, got involved in the Persian-Egyptian conflict. His fleet, the biggest in Europe at that moment, formed a serious threat for the Persians, and he also almost managed to get support from the side of Sparta. He was crucified in 522, and the rich island of Samos the became the first Persian subject in Europe.

The Persian empire had grown in no time from a small kingdom into one of the biggest empires the world has ever seen.

After the death of Cambyses in 522 a priest of the Median class of Magicians managed to get to the throne by faking that he was the murdered brother of Cambyses. Three years later the Achaemenid Darius managed to restore the order. Darius became the great organizer of the Persian empire. The conquest of Babylon and Elam proved to be a turning point. Darius started a palace administration just like the Babylonians used to have, and while Cambyses was happy with donations he raised taxes in the conquered areas. Babylon and Susa became the administrative capitols of the empire, while Persepolis was the ceremonial centre.

Organisation of the Persian empire.

Although the palace administration was of a purely bureaucratic nature had the Persian empire a feudal aspect as well. It was divided in twenty satrapies, each rules by a satrap who was inspected by an independent general who was appointed by the king himself. These satraps had a lot of independence and were able to gain wealth in their provinces and to built up a position of power for their family. On the long term this increasing independency of the provinces meant less grip of the palace on the empire, and an increased chance on nationalistic revolts in the conquered areas. To prevent this from happening and to be able to move the troops around faster, Darius decided to enlarge the road network. The Greeks were amazed by this, and especially the Road of Kings, which connected Susa with Ephese over 2000 kilometres, was a wonder.

Still, the dominion of the Persian kings was less feudal than of their predecessors. They had a very high tolerance for other cultures and religions, and men from the upper class often married women of the conquered people. The king held all power though, the type and symbol of an absolute king who' s position of power was totally opposite to the Greek ideas of freedom.

The Persian threat.

These huge changes in the East of course also influenced Hellas. In the seventh century their colonies in Asia Minor were attacked by the Lydians, and during the period of 560 BC till 546 most Greek colonies were conquered by Croessus. Nevertheless they kept most of their independence, and their trade even increased since coins, a Lydian novelty, were introduced in their society. When Lydia was defeated by Persia the Greek colonies were soon part of the Persian empire. They were not enslaved, but they did have to pay taxes, supply man for the Persian army, and install tyrants who were approved by the Persian king.

But was Darius planning to conquer Hellas next, or would he try to expand his kingdom into another direction? The Greek did not seem to care that much, and they were not even shocked when Darius' forces crossed the Bosporus in 512, and started an expedition against the Scythes in southern Russia. This expedition turned into a huge failure for the Persians, and soon they were forced to retreat. Darius left a part of his army behind with the assignment to conquer the coastal area of Thracy, which was alarmingly close to Hellas.