Episode 17 From Expansion to Stability
The Persian Empire
Dr John W I Lee (2012)
Film Review
Xerxes’ failed 480 BC invasion of Athens was Persia’s last overt war against the city-state. During Xerxes’ reign, Persia preferred to undermine Athens via diplomacy, bribery, infiltration and supporting proxy wars via Athens’ primary enemy Sparta.
During the fifth century the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos all broke away from Persia, and the Athens-backed Delian League (named after the island of Delios) took over the western Ionian coast of Anatolia. From there they launched attacks on Cyprus, Macedon and Thrace, ultimately capturing the city of Byzantium (modern Istanbul). This ultimately transferred control of the Aegean Sea to Greece.
Despite dealing with revolts in the eastern empire, under Darius’ son Xerxes, the Persians ultimately recaptured much of Cyprus and retained control of Thrace.
469-466 BC – Persian-backed Spartans launch war to retake Ionian coast from Athena, while the city-state moves away from democracy, gradually converting the Delian League into an empire.
465BC – Xerxes assassinated at age 65. Greek sources blame the assassination conspiracy on his on Artapanas, who assumes the name Antaxerxes I on taking the throne.
465-424 AD – Antanxerxes I faces numerous revolts, including an Athenian-backed revolt in Egypt. Despite increasing opposition to growing Athenian imperialism, Sparta rejects Persia’s request for military assistance. Through an ingenious strategy in which they dig a network of canals leaving 100 Greek tiremes high and dry, Persians crush the revolt, killing thousands of Athenians.
455-450 BC – Athens (initiating a compulsory draft in all their colonies) again join forces with an Egyptian guerilla movement and try to retake Egypt and Cyprus.
450BC – Peace of Callias grants Athens control of coastal Ionian cities in return for an agreement not to attack Persia. Athens builds Parthenon with tribute resulting from this this conflict.
431 BC – Athens and Sparta declare war on each other (Peloponnesian War)
423 BC – Antaxerxes succeeded by half brother Sogdiamus, who the army kills to install Ochus (taking the name Dairus II) on the throne.
412 BC – Playing Sparta and Athens against each other, Darius funds creation of a Spartan naval fleet in return for agreement that Persia will retake control (from the Athenian empire) of Anatolia.
404 BC – Peloponnesian War ends with defeat of Athens in 404 BC, leading to the dissolution of the Delian League and establishment of Spartan control over Greece.
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