Histories

In Book 7, Herodotus describes Darius’ organization of a new military campaign against mainland Greece after the Persian defeat at Marathon. Xerxes, Darius’ successor, pursues his father’s ambition and assembles a massive invasion force with which he intends to subdue all of Europe after conquering the Athenians and Peloponnesians. Bridging the Hellespont, Xerxes’ expedition marches through Thrace and Macedonia into northern Greece. The terrified Greeks assemble a small force led by the Spartan king Leonidas to defend the pass of Thermopylae from the much larger Persian army. In a courageous stand, the Spartans and Thespians repel the Persian force until their position is flanked and the defenders are annihilated.

Angered by the Persian defeat at Marathon, Darius determined to redouble his efforts to punish Athens and subdue all of mainland Greece. He dispatched couriers to all the territories under his dominion with orders to outfit a much larger army and fleet, which he would personally command. For three years all of Asia was in an uproar making preparations and conscripting troops for the campaign. At the end of this period, Egypt revolted, which strengthened Darius’ resolve to go to war against both the Greeks and Egyptians.