How was the Persian Empire established?

The Persian Empire originated in the southwest of the Iranian plateau. In the 7th century BC, the Persians were still in the clan-tribal stage and were ruled by the Medes in the western part of the Iranian plateau. In 550 B.C., Cyrus (558-529 B.C.), who was born in the clan aristocracy Achaemenes, led the Persians to resist the rule of Medes, destroyed the once powerful Medes, and established Persia. nation.

The emerging Persian state is a slave-holding state with strong expansionism. Although the Persians have entered a civilized society, they are not far away from the clan and tribal stage. The level of social development is relatively low. The clan and tribal system and traditions are still very strong, and the social differentiation has not reached a dramatic level. Therefore, the Persians still have the traditional habits of "barbarians". To them, plundering is easier and even more honorable than creative labor. "Bravery" is regarded as "one of the greatest virtues." The clan nobles took advantage of the "barbaric" habits of the Persians and lured them with captured objects to realize their greed for slaves, wealth and land. In this way, the surrounding peoples and countries became the first targets and objects of Persian expansion. The Persian state was also a primitive slave state. Its state institutions still retain the character of tribal federations and the legacy of military democracy. Its army was composed of all members of free communes in Persia and Media (the level of social development was similar to Persia), and was called "Kara" (meaning people). The organizational forms of the army and the commune were basically the same, and the commune was also called the "Kala" commune. The tradition of tribal alliances, the legacy of military democracy, and the combat organization integrating soldiers and civilians gave the Persian country a strong military power from the beginning. With this military power, the Persian country attacked east and west and invaded and expanded. From 546 BC to 525 BC, Cyrus and his son Cambys (529-523 BC) successively captured Lydia, New Babylonia, Central Asia, and Egypt in Asia Minor, and controlled Palestine and the Philippines. Niki established a vast empire spanning Asia and Africa. Darius (522-486 BC), who ascended the throne in 522 BC, was an ambitious conqueror. He suppressed "rebellions" in various parts of the country and conquered the northwest and central Indus Valley. After the northern part of Asia, in 514-513 BC, he led his army across the Bosporus, entered Europe, and attacked the Scythians on the northern coast of the Black Sea. After being defeated by the Scythians, a part of the army was left behind, led by generals. Led by Megabazus, they stationed themselves in Thrace. Later, Macedonia in the northern part of the Greek peninsula also surrendered to Persia. In this way, the westward expansion of Persia has approached the gateway of Balkan Greece.

In Greece in the 6th century BC, various city-states had been formed one after another, with relative internal stability. The slave system and social economy were developing day by day. The maritime trade of the industrial and commercial city-states had been active in the eastern and central Mediterranean, as far west as southern Italy. and Sicily, as far north as the Black Sea coast. These areas supplied the Greek industrial and commercial city-states with raw materials, food and slave labor, and at the same time became the sales places for the products of the industrial and commercial city-states. Due to historical reasons, some Greek city-states formed alliances with each other, and some were hostile to each other. But Balkan Greece has become the center of the vast Greek world, where two powerful and powerful city-states have emerged - Sparta and Athens. Sparta is the land power of Balkan Greece, and it has a well-trained army. In the 6th century BC, the Peloponnesian states formed the "Peloponnesian League" under its leadership. After Solon's reforms, Athens' industry, commerce and overseas trade developed. From the middle to the end of the 6th century BC, Athens' democracy was finally established and its economy developed rapidly. Due to economic development, Athens has had close ties with the coast of Asia Minor and Thrace. At the same time, Athens also actively expanded its colonies abroad. As early as the 7th century BC, the Athenians immigrated to Sigeion in the northwest corner of Asia Minor and the Elaeus area in Thrace. By the middle of the 6th century BC, they had firmly controlled these two areas. At the same time, the Black Sea coast has also become its commodity market and supplier of food and raw materials. Overseas interests were of increasing importance to the rapidly developing Athens.