The Greco-Persian Wars, a series of conflicts between the Persian Empire and various Greek city-states, took place from 499 to 479 BC. The wars began with the Ionian Revolt, an uprising of Greek cities in Ionia (modern-day Turkey) against Persian rule. The Persians responded by sending a large army to crush the revolt, but the Greeks were able to hold off the Persian forces at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Ten years later, the Persians returned with a much larger army and were able to defeat the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae. However, the Greek navy was able to defeat the Persian navy at the Battle of Salamis, and the Persians were forced to retreat. The Greeks then went on the offensive and eventually liberated the Greek cities of Ionia from Persian rule. The Greco-Persian Wars ended with the signing of the Peace of Callias in 449 BC, which recognized the independence of the Greek city-states. The wars had a profound impact on the development of both Greece and Persia, and helped to shape the course of Western civilization.
