Many Ionian Greek cities were conquered by the Persian Empire. The Ionian cities did not like being conquered by the Persian Empires so in response they revolted.This revolt occurred in 499 B.C.. The Athenians also helped the Ionian cities revolt. The Ionian Revolt upset King Darius, the Persian ruler a lot. He wanted to punish the Ionian city along with Athens for this revolt. King Darius already had the desire to expand his empire even more so to punish the Ionian Greek cities and Athens he attacked mainlands in Greece.

First the Persians captured the city of Eretria. In response the Athenians attacked the Persians. The Athenians were greatly outnumbered even though they fought along side with the Plataeans. Some weaknesses of the Plataeans and Athenians included that they relied on spear thrusts at close ranges. This hindered them greatly in battle while the Persians …show more content…
Their military was much better than it had been in the past, but more focused on the navy. By 480 B.C. Athens built up a great navy.

After the death of King Darius of Persia, his son Xerxes came to power. Xerxes was focused on expanding the Persian empire. Xerxes invades Greece with an army of 150,000 men and a navy of 700 ships. The Persians attacked at Thermopylae. Eventually Xerxes finally defeats the Spartans at Thermopylae. Traitor. This traitor showed a secret passage that helped defeat the Spartans from both sides. 300 Spartans fought the whole Persian army but they still lost. The Persians then wanted to destroy all of Athens but by the time they got their the people of Athens had already left.

The Persians were defeated by the Greek navy in a sea battle. There were only 400 Greek ships under the Athenian general Themistocles. Xerxes left a large army in Greece. The Spartans and Athenians fought the Persian army, and the two forces beat them.The Persian Wars lasted for twenty