Greece and Persia 
Persia Becomes an Empire
Cyrus the Great
The Persian Army
Early in their history the Persians were an unorganized nomadic people but this little by little changed and the Persians created a huge empire.
In 550 BC, Cyrus II lead a Persia revolt against the Mendes. His victory marked the beginning of the Persian Empire. Because of his great successes, historians call him Cyrus the Great.
Cyrus was successful in his conquest because his army was strong. It was strong because it was well organized and loyal. The army had a powerful calvary, a unit of soldiers who ride horses.
The Persian Empire Grows Stronger.
Political Organization
Persian Society
Cyrus's son Cambyses continued to expand the Persian Empire after Cyrus died. After Cyrus it came Darius I who claimed the throne and killed all his rivals for power
Darius organized the empire by dividing it into 20 provinces. Then he chose governors called straps to rule the provinces for him.
Darius made many improvements, for example the roads. Darius built many roads to connect variousparts of the empire.
The Persians Fight Greece
Persian Expansion
Darius wanted the Persian empire to grow. But before he could move very far to Europe, he had to deal with a revolt in the empire.
Some city-states in main land Greece sent soldiers to join the fight against the Persians .
The cities that were reveled were in Asia, Daruis was enraged that other Greeks had give them aid.
In 449 BC several Greek cities in Asia minor rebelled against Persian rule.
The Battle of Marathon
This invasion began a series of wars between Persia and Greece that historians call the Persian Wars
The Greeks won the battle because they had better weapons and clever leaders.
Darius invaded Greece, ha and his army sailed to the plains of Marathon near Athens.
The Second Invasion of Greece
The Spartans had the strongest army in Greece, so they went to fight the Persian army. And meanwhile the Athens sent their powerful navy to attack the Persian navy.
For three days, the small Greek force held off the Persian army.
Darius's son tried to conquer Greece again, and the Greeks prepared to defend their homeland.
After winning the battle , the Persians swept into Athens, attacking and burning the city.