Persia & Greece, Which one was larger?

[Cyrus]

Everyone who reads the history of Greco-Persian wars thinks that Persia was a huge country and Greece was a tiny country whereas in fact Greece was larger than Persia, If Persians could rule over many other countries that some of them were several times larger than their country then it shows their ability and power.If someone hears that a "young" Macedonian (Alexander III) conquered Persia 2300 years ago then he will say "What a wonderful work!" but no one will be surprised if you say that 250 years earlier Darius I conquered Macedonia and established an Empire which was a half time larger than Alexander's Empire whenas his father (Hystaspes) and grandfather (Arsames) were serving in his army.

[marcus]

Hi Cyrus,I can see what you're saying, but I think it rather misses the point that when one says "Persia" one usually means "The Persian Empire". The original area that was "Persia" might well have been quite small, but when Darius invaded Greece his "Persia" was a huge empire. He didn't conquer Macedonia with just Persians in his army.All the bestMarcus

[stavros]

helloi am unfamiliar with the ancient persian world. are you talking about size of empire? personally i dont really think in these two cases size matters, cause they were both big empires, i assume. but more importantly of what was achieved. for instance, was the persian empire as big and successful as the hellenic. that is, did they build cities like alexander, did they spread the persian language, customs, rituals, culture etc...as did alexander with greek. and if so to what extent.essentially was the persian world as glourious as the greek? that could be a major factor as to why alexander is so remembered, that the greek empire lasted 300 years after king alexanders death. cheersstavros

[smittysmitty]

hi, I feel Cyrus makes a valid point Marcus, the Persian empire was indeed a magnificent achievment and perhaps has not received the recognition it surely deserves. Perhaps the lack of literary material, or at least lack of translated literary material is the cause of this.By the way ATG's army was, as you are aware, compose not only of Makedones but Illyrians, Thracians, Paeonians and Greeks :)cheers!

[Cyrus]

I think you are not only unfamiliar with the ancient persian world but also ancient hellenic world.
It was the Persian empire which lasted 300 years or Greek empire? Didn't the Greek empire fall apart after Alexander?
They were Persians who adopted Greek culture and religion or Greeks and Romans who adopted Persian culture and religion? Do you know anything about Mithraism?

[agesilaos]

Bizarre to claim that Darius'Empire was half as big again as Alexander's since Alexander conquered the whole of that Empire and held Greece which Darius never took.But both were able men, only the Persian Way of the World, which was in modern eyes enlightenedly liberal, could not withstand the shock of Hellenic pragmatism, civilisation generally loses out when faced with a powerful barbarism.

[Cyrus]

I meant "Darius' Empire was one and a half time larger than Alexander's Empire".Darius the Great had conquered Dahae, Libya, Ethiopia, Caucasia, Pontos, ... but Alexander never could conquer them.

[beausefaless]

I will admit the Persian Empire was magnificent for many moons and also built some of the most beautiful cities during their reign, Babylon and Persepolis to name a couple.I have respect for your courage to come into this forum and debate your thoughts against Alexander! The best of luck to you, your going to need it even though some of your points are good ones they're just incomplete.

[marcus]

Hi Smitty,I don't disagree with you - the Persian empire was, indeed, an incredible achievement. But that wasn't what Cyrus appeared to be saying. Maybe I'm doing a disservice to Cyrus, but what he appeared to be getting at was that Persia, a small country, 'conquered' Macedonia (which was a small and weak country itself at the time, of course). That is not the case - Persia was a huge empire at the time. That was all I was responding to.All the bestMarcus

[smittysmitty]

sorry Marcus,hope you didn't take my post the wrong way, I was just taken back a bit with Cyrus's post, never having thought of the Persian empire having humble beginings before, as all empires would have.

[marcus]

Hi Smitty,I hope I didn't, too. I'm as ready as the next person (or maybe *more* ready) to accept criticism, but sometimes I get defensive if I feel my own posts have been misunderstood. I know how difficult it is, sometimes, to express oneself properly on the Web, so I always do my best to clarify.All the best.Marcus

[andy19]

just to further what u said marcus i think that the ruler of macedonia at the time alexander 1 collaborated with the persians and when the tide was turning in the war he turned against them much to the benefit of himself and macedonia but it didnt really leave a good impression on the other greek city states!

[marcus]

Yes, Alexander I certainly moved with the tide. I can well believe that he had little choice but to 'side' with the Persians - with such a huge army he would have had little option (consider the situation in Wales, and to some extent Scotland, during the reign of Edward I). As soon as the opportunity came he turned against them... which was brave, because Macedonia was still on the direct route home for the Persians. With all such situations there are different interpretations - and Alexander had a choice: to throw away everything by adopting anti-Persian stance; or to salvage what he could from the situation, for the sake of Macedonia.At the same time, it's understandable that the Greek cities, who lost so much, viewed it differently.All the bestMarcus

[andy19]

good point macedonia and the northern city states were indeed left to fend fo themselves because athens believed the best defence option was far south of macedonia so i can understand what Alexander 1 did. In fact i believe that the arguement was so bad as to where to put a defence that Sparta would only support the other city states with 300 men and the king himself. I take it the rest of Sparta believed that the armies should meet further south instead of North where leonias planned.Cheers Andy