What special things happened in the Persian War?

Answer 1

Coalitions of Greek city-states wore down the Persian intent to incorporate them into the Persian Empire from 499 BCE. The Persians gave up in 449 BCE, and left the Greek cities to continue fighting amongst themselves.

Answer 2

The Greek cities in Asia Minor revolted in 499 BCE against Persian rule.

The Persians put the rebellions down, greatly helped by many of the Greek cities ratting on the others and submitting to the Persians. Athens and Eretria from mainland Greece had intervened on the side of the rebels, and in the process burnt down the Persian provincial capital of Sardis.

The Persians determined to bring these cities under its control, and appoint local Greek tyrants to keep them quiet, mounting an amphibious attack on them. Eretria was captured, but Athens repelled the expedition at the battle of Marathon.

The Persians decided that the only way to keep peace and prosperity going in the eastern Mediterranean was to bring all the Greek cities under its control, appoint local Greek tyrants with a Persian governor to supervise them. King Xerxes threatened and bribed some cities into submission and mounted an expedition to subdue the remainder, invading in 480-479 BCE. After taking northern Greece, his forces were defeated at Salamis and Plataia and withdrew.

Sparta proposed evacuating the Greek cities in Asia Minor back to mainland Greece. Athens won its proposal for a defensive league to protect the cities from further Persian dominance. Athens led this Delian League, and after several battles over the next 30 years, the Persians gave up in 449 BCE and left the Greek cities to their usual fighting amongst themselves.

Answer 3

Athens turned the Delian League which it had led against the Persian Empire into an empire of its own, and used the money and power to exalt itself, and to interfere in other Greek city-states, bringing on the destructive Peloponnesian War.

Answer 4

First define 'special' so that your question can be answered.

Answer 5

With the Persian threat gone, the Greek cities were able to go back to their usual occupation of fighting each other.