The Persian Wars

Persia readies for war

Meanwhile, the Persians were preparing. Darius was unable to respond immediately to his defeat because of rebellions on the other end of his empire. While he quelling these, he was killed.

His son, Xerxes, spent several years securing his own succession. But he was determined to avenge his father's defeat by the Greeks. Once ready, Xerxes undertook enormous preparations, convinced that sufficient manpower would win the day.

Xerxes built an enormous army that he somehow had to get across the sea to Greece. Travel by sea was perilous; armies always travelled by land when possible. So Xerxes' route was to cross the Bosporus and travel by way of Thrace, Macedonia, and Thessaly.

History of Western Civilization

E.L. Skip Knox
Boise State University

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