Assyrian Empire vs. The Persian Empire Although both, the Assyrian and the Persian empires proved to be two of the most famous of their times, there were noticeable differences among them both and what strategies they used to establish their name and carry their empires towards success and leadership. Both of them managed to spread their empires to vast levels and leave traces for the other later empires to follow. The Assyrian

Battle of Platea The Persian Empire was built on the Persian practice of conquer and enslave. The big war machine moved across Asia and Southern Europe conquering peoples and stripping them of any form of self-determination or independent thought. This was the principle that set the scene for the Battle of Platea in 479 AD The success of the Persian army was built on the principle of taking the best from

Economy of Persian Society: Darius and Xerxes Under Darius, the Persian Empire was at its height and its economy flourished. The lands and people he conquered paid taxes or tributes to him, most willingly, because he, like Cyrus, was tolerant of their cultures. The expansion of the Persian road system allowed for easier travels and a mail system to develop which facilitated trade and the moving of coin. Indeed, Darius

Thus, the Spartans were now free, along with the disgruntled Persians, who had a significant ax to grind with Athens, to seize the opportunity and attack Athens (thereby ending the 50 years truce). After a few years of resistance, Athens fell completely, and was immediately subjected to the oligarchical government under Sparta, known as "the Thirty." Although it certainly seems ironic that the very democratic system that the Athenians were so

Persian Wars (490 BCE to 479 BCE) between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire were predicated by various circumstances, ranging from cultural ideologies to political connivances. For the Greeks, particularly the Ionians and the Athenians, Persian rule was unwanted and unacceptable. The Persian leaders Darius and his son Xerxes, however, following in the example of Cyrus the Great, saw the Greek city-states as puny colonies that were to be

There was still plenty of bickering (Herodotus 506), but in general, the Greeks had now finally learned the first of the two "lessons" that some read in the Ionian Revolt and its defeat: In any effort against superior numbers, unity is essential to success. The second lesson, about the importance of naval power, was shortly to be demonstrated. Having not been wasted at Artemisium, the Greek fleet overcame the Persians