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were a 20-year conflict that lasted from 490 B.C. to 479 B.C., in which the kings of the Persian Empire made an effort to acquire Greece. The independent city-states banned together and successfully resisted these attacks. The Greek colonies in Asia Minor were ....

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.... which was due to the active organization of its democratic system. The Persians failed and Aristagoras, fearing for his life, began a democratic rebellion in 499 B.C. He went to the Greek mainland for support but Sparta denied him aid, fearing their Helots might revolt. Athens, on the other hand, supplied 20 ships and Eretria, an Athenian ally, sent five. These forces set out to Sardis, the capital of Lydia, where they burned it, slaughtered the men, and took the women and children into slavery. All the Greek cities in Asia Minor joined in the revolt but the Athenians lost interest and returned home. In 493 B.C., after the city of Miletus was c ....