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influences to which they were exposed； the Persians preserved in their native mountains their simple and warlike habits。 They were a brave and hardy nation； clothed in skins； drinking only water； and ignorant of the commonest luxuries of life。 Cyrus led these fierce warriors from their mountain fastnesses； defeated the Medes in battle； took Astyages prisoner； and deprived him of his throne。 The other nations included in the Median empire submitted to the conqueror； and the sovereignty of Upper Asia thus passed from the Medes to the Persians。 The accession of Cyrus to the empire is placed in B。C。 559。 A few years afterwards Cyrus turned his arms against the Lydians； took Sardis； and deprived Croesus of his throne （B。C。 546）。 The fall of Croesus was followed by the subjection of the Greek cities in Asia to the Persian yoke。 They offered a brave but ineffectual resistance； and were taken one after the other by Harpagus the Persian general。 Even the islands of Lesbos and Chios sent in their submission to Harpagus； although the Persians then possessed no fleet to force them to obedience。 Samos； on the other hand； maintained its independence； and appears soon afterwards one of the most powerful of the Grecian states。
During the reign of Cambyses （B。C。 529…521）； the son and successor of Cyrus； the Greek cities of Asia remained obedient to their Persian governors。 It was during this reign that Polycrates； tyrant of Samos； became the master of the Grecian seas。 The ambition and good fortune of this enterprising tyrant were alike remarkable。 He possessed a hundred ships of war； with which he conquered several of the islands； and he aspired to nothing less than the dominion of Ionia； as well as of the islands in the AEgean。 The Lacedaemonians； who had invaded the island at the invitation of the Samian exiles； for the purpose of overthrowing his government； were obliged to retire； after besieging his city in vain for forty days。 Everything which he undertook seemed to prosper； but his uninterrupted good fortune at length excited the alarm of his ally Amasis； the king of Egypt。 According to the tale related by Herodotus； the Egyptian king； convinced that such amazing good fortune would sooner or later incur the envy of the gods； wrote to Polycrates； advising him to throw away one of his most valuable possessions and thus inflict some injury upon himself。 Thinking the advice to be good； Polycrates threw into the sea a favourite ring of matchless price and beauty； but unfortunately it was found a few days afterwards in the belly of a fine fish which a fisherman had sent him as a present。 Amasis now foresaw that the ruin of Polycrates was inevitable； and sent a herald to Samos to renounce his alliance。 The gloomy anticipations of the Egyptian monarch proved well founded。 In the midst of all his prosperity Polycrates fell by a most ignominious fate。 Oroetes； the satrap of Sardis； had for some unknown cause conceived a deadly hatred against the Samian despot。 By a cunning stratagem the satrap allured him to the mainland； where he was immediately arrested and hanged upon a cross （B。C。 522）。
The reign of Darius； the third king of Persia。 （B。C。 521…485）； is memorable in Grecian history。 In his invasion of Scythia； his fleet； which was furnished by the Asiatic Greeks； was ordered to sail up the Danube and throw a bridge of boats across the river。 The King himself； with his land forces； marched through Thrace； and； crossing the bridge； placed it under the care of the Greeks； telling them that； if he did not return within sixty days； they might break it down； and sail home。 He then left them； and penetrated into the Scythian territory。 The sixty days had already passed away； and there was yet no sign of the Persian army； but shortly afterwards the Greeks were astonished by the appearance of a body of Scythians； who informed them that Darius was in full retreat； pursued by the whole Scythian nation； and that his only hope of safety depended upon that bridge。 They urged the Greeks to seize this opportunity of destroying the Persian army； and of recovering their own liberty； by breaking down the bridge。 Their exhortations were warmly seconded by the Athenian Miltiades； the tyrant of the Thracian Chersonesus； and the future conqueror of Marathon。 The other rulers of the Ionian cities were at first disposed to follow his suggestion； but as soon as Histiaeus of Miletus reminded them that their sovereignty depended upon the support of the Persian king； and that his ruin would involve their own； they changed their minds and resolved to await the Persians。 After enduring great privations and sufferings Darius and his army at length reached the Danube and crossed the bridge in safety。 Thus the selfishness of these Grecian despots threw away the most favourable opportunity that ever presented itself of delivering their native cities from the Persian yoke。 To reward the services of Histiaeus； Darius gave him the town of Myrainus； near the Strymon。 Darius； on his return to Asia； left Megabazus in Europe with an army of 80；000 men to complete the subjugation of Thrace and of the Greek cities upon the Hellespont。 Megabazus not only subdued the Thracians； but crossed the Strymon； conquered the Paeonians； and penetrated as far as the frontiers of Macedonia。 He then sent heralds into the latter country to demand earth and water； the customary symbols of submission。 These were immediately granted by Amyntas； the reigning monarch （B。C。 510）； and thus the Persian dominions were extended to the borders of Thessaly。 Megabazus； on his return to Sardis； where Darius awaited him； informed the Persian monarch that Histiaeus was collecting the elements of a power which might hereafter prove formidable to the Persian sovereignty； since Myrcinus commanded the navigation of the Strymon； and consequently the commerce with the interior of Thrace。 Darius； perceiving that the apprehensions of his general were not without foundation； summoned Histiaeus to his presence； and； under the pretext that he could not bear to be deprived of the company of his friend； carried him with the rest of the court to Susa。 This apparently trivial circumstance was attended with important consequences to the Persian empire and to the whole Grecian race。
For the next few years everything remained quiet in the Greek cities of Asia； but about B。C。 502 a revolution in Naxos； one of the islands in the AEgean Sea； first disturbed the general repose； and occasioned the war between Greece and Asia。 The aristocratical exiles； who had been driven out of Naxos by a rising of the people； applied for aid to Aristagoras； the tyrant of Miletus and the son…in…law of Histiaeus。 Aristagoras readily promised his assistance； knowing that； if they were restored by his means； he should become master of the island。 He obtained the co…operation of Artaphernes； the satrap of western Asia by holding out to him the prospect of annexing not only Naxos； but all the islands of the AEgean sea； to the Persian empire。 He offered at the same time to defray the expense of the armament。 Artaphernes placed at his disposal a fleet of 200 ships under the command of Megabates； a Persian of high ran