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Persian Empire

Mentioned 8 times across 1 podcast this week

This Week's Pulse

Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are currently re-examining the Persian Empire through the lens of its early fifth-century Greece invasions as documented by Herodotus. On The Rest Is History, Holland argues that these invasions represent the "key turning point in the, the drama of the, of his great story."

The hosts delve into the geopolitical scale of the Persian Empire, noting a disconnect between the imperial reality and the Greek perception. Holland suggests that the Greeks vastly underestimated their adversary, stating, "They probably don't have a, a sense of just how vast the Persian Empire is and how immense the resources available to the Persian king."

Beyond the logistics of war, Sandbrook probes the ideological underpinnings of the state, questioning if it was "absolutely explicit that the Persian Empire will effectively become universal?" Looking ahead, the duo plans to continue unpacking these ancient power dynamics, shifting focus toward the specific military encounters that defined the era.

Where it's discussed

668. Greece vs Persia: The Rise of the First Superpower (Part 1)

The Rest Is History

Tom Hollandneutralfrom “Cyrus builds the Persian Empire”

The superpower attempting to conquer Greece in the fifth century BC.

“No, it was very good. Um, yeah, so Herodotus, um, the first historian, and his great work takes as its theme, uh, the story of how the Persian Empire in the early decades of the fifth century BC tries to conquer Greece, um, and ultimately fails. And what Herod…”

Dominic Sandbrookneutralfrom “The Greek tyrants guarding Darius’ escape”

An empire presented as an earthly reflection of divine order, seeking universal expansion.

“So is the implication that, um, the Persian Empire, it-- you know, is it in a-- is it absolutely explicit that the Persian Empire will effectively become universal? Because if this is about divine order, surely there can be nowhere on Earth that is beyond the …”

Tom Hollandneutralfrom “Miltiades escapes to Athens”

The vastness and immense resources of the Persian Empire were largely misunderstood by the Greeks.

“Yeah, they would, but I, I, I think that they-- [sighs] I think they probably equate the Persians to, to the way that the Lydians had been. You know, they're a kind of regional overlord. They probably don't have a, a sense of just how vast the Persian Empire i…”

Tom Hollandnegativefrom “Persia advances towards Greece”

The empire responsible for crushing the Ionian revolt and deporting the survivors.

“And I think their, their plan is basically to hope that [laughs] you know, the Persians will forget all about it, and they will pretend that it never happened. It's like that scene in Seinfeld where George, you know, announces that he's, um, he's leaving, and …”

Tom Hollandneutralfrom “Darius turns towards Europe”

The state consolidated by Darius through a combination of militant religious devotion and administrative efficiency.

“Correct. So it's, it's, uh, I think a very kind of crucial moment, and it helps Darius secure his rule, crush his enemies. This combination of kind of militant devotion to notions of truth and a readiness to impale people and kind of mutilate them, and it's, y…”

Tom Hollandnegativefrom “The destruction of Miletus”

The superpower that the Athenians fear and have had complicated diplomatic relations with.

“they had sent ambassadors to the Persian governor, Artaphernes, in Sardis to see if they could negotiate an alliance. And Artaphernes had told them, "Well, you know, we're the superpower. We don't bother with alliances. It's, you know, you either submit or it'…”

Dominic Sandbrooknegativefrom “Why Athens feared Persia”

The dominant superpower that the rebels are attempting to defy.

“I mean, such a big call from him. It, it-- he's doing this presumably because he thinks it's this or nothing. Like, I'd say it's a, it-- this is a strategy born of total desperation and despair, presumably. And does he, does he ever think at this point, do you…”

Tom Hollandneutralfrom “The fall of Eretria”

The superpower seeking to expand its influence and punish perceived threats in the west.

“as, uh, one of these 10 generals serves as a signal to everyone, to would-be appeasers in Athens, to other Greek cities, and to the Persians, that the Athenians, if the Persians attack them, are going to fight. They're not just going to submit. And this is an …”