key events: 559, cyrus the great establishes the achaemenid dynasty 547, cyrus conqures lydia. 540, cyrus conqures babylonia 530, cambyses ii becomes king of persia 522, darius overthrowes bardeia and becomes king of persia 510, ionian greek poleis submits to persian empire 508 cleisthenes reforms in athens 499-493, ionian revolt 490, battle of marathon 486, xerxes i becomes king of persia 480, battle of thermopliae, battle of artemisium, battle of salamis 479, battle of plataea 478, dealian leauge formed 472, themistocles ostricised from athens 460, rebuilding of acrpolis beguins, 431, peloponesian war begins