Conflict between the Persian Empire and the city-states of Greece, Greece wins.
The conflict between the Persian Empire and the city-states of Greece, known as the Greco-Persian Wars, lasted from 499 to 449 BC. The Persian Empire, under the rule of King Darius I and later his son Xerxes I, sought to expand their territory into Greece. However, the city-states of Greece, led by Athens and Sparta, united to repel the Persian invasion.
The most famous battles of the Greco-Persian Wars were the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, where the Athenians defeated a larger Persian force, and the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, where a small Greek force led by King Leonidas of Sparta held off the Persian army for several days before being defeated.
Despite these setbacks, the Greeks ultimately emerged victorious in the war. The turning point came at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, where the Greek fleet led by Themistocles defeated the larger Persian navy. This victory forced Xerxes to retreat from Greece, and the remaining Persian forces were defeated at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC.
The defeat of the Persian Empire by the city-states of Greece marked a significant turning point in world history. It demonstrated the strength and unity of the Greek city-states and helped to preserve the independence and cultural identity of Greece. The victory also inspired later generations of Greeks and contributed to the development of Greek culture and civilization.