Greco-Persian Wars - Ionian Revolt

By katelynmdiamond

  • 498 BC

    498 BC
    With aid from Athens and Eretria, the Ionians marched on Sardis and burnt it to the ground. As they were traveling back to Ionia, however, they were followed by the Persian army. A battle ensued and the Ionians were beaten at the Battle of Ephesus.

  • 497 BC

    497 BC
    The Persians retaliated by attacking the Ionians and attempting to capture the territories that they had taken over. At the same time, however, the revolt of the Ionians had spread to Caria, meaning that Darius sent the largest army there. At the Battle of Pedasus, however, the army was destroyed.

  • 496-495 BC

    496-495 BC
    This was a stalemate period between the Ionians and the Persians. They were very evenly matched on the battlefield which resulted in many casualties on both sides.

  • 493 BC

    493 BC
    The Persians travelled down the West Coast to attack the cities that were left of the rebellion. They destroyed these cities before agreeing to a peace treaty for Ionia that was surprisingly fair. The revolt of the Ionians was the first conflict between Greece and Persia and is considered the first phase of the Greco-Persian Wars.

  • 492 BC

    492 BC
    After the revolt had ended, Darius was set on punishing Eretria and Athens for their support of the Ionians during the revolt. Also, he believed that Greece possessing so many city states was threatening to Persia and their empire. Darius then decided that he was going to conquer all of Greece. During this year was the first time Persia invaded Greece which is a direct result of the revolt of the Ionians.

  • 499 BC

    499 BC
    Tyrant ruler Aristagoras of Miletus went on a voyage with Artephernes of Persia to try to conquer Naxos to show his control. It went very poorly, so Aristagoras, knowing that he was going to be overthrown, led all the people of Ionia to revolt against Darius, the king of Persia.

  • 494 BC

    494 BC
    The Persian army had reorganized and revamped its army and especially its navy. They then headed straight for Miletus as it was the starting point of the rebellion. The Ionians tried to defend Miletus by sea, but were defeated at the Battle of Lade. Miletus was then captured by Persia and the Carians surrendered to Persia. This ended the offical revolt.