collided in epic and dramatic fashion as the mighty Persian Empire waged war

against the city states of Greece. Beginning as a minor rebellion in the far

western fringe of Darius’ empire, the conflict would explode into a full scale

war that would last for five decades. Spanning dozens of battles of costing

thousands of the lives, the Greco-Persian Wars have shaped western imagination

for over two thousand years. In the first of this two part episode, we discuss

the roots of the hostilities, the Ionian Revolt, the first Invasion of Greece

and the battle of Marathon.