The Greeks and the Persians are two major civilizations that arose in between Asia and Europe around 1000 BCE. Both groups grew in massive size and power ca. 500 BCE. Since the Greeks and the Persians were close to each other, it resulted in conflict and domination. Their conflict resulted first into an antagonism, then later on their lands became one under Alexander the Great. The relationship between the two civilizations changed constantly because of the strength of their rulers, the unity of each empire, and the advancements of technology and tactics. During the struggles between the Greeks and the Persians, many great rulers governed their empires. With their strength, each ruler conquered parts of the opposing empire. The Persian kings that were energetic and resilient were Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes. Under these rulers the Persians were able to conquer some of Greece for a short time. During their kingship, Greece and Persia fought against each other in battle. Later on the Greeks were united by the Macedonian kings Philip and Alexander, who also united Greece and Persia. These two kings were masters of battle tactics, displaying their strength and skill. King Philip’s plan of attack against the Persians gave his peoples an upper hand in the conquering of Persia; although his son, Alexander was the one to use those tactics.
Since the Greeks were a scattered people, they did not fall under one ruler. Each polis, city-state, in Greece had its own ruler, own government, and own way of life. The ruler of each polis was responsible for their own area and was rarely aided in battle by other polis. This gave the Persians a tactical advantage, they dominated each polis one by one until they reached the west side of the Aegean seacoast. There, the Greeks formed a small alliance to hold back the Persians, but it was not enough. The Persians kept pushing the Greeks until they reached the point of naval battle. The Greeks were able to hold them off and push them back using this method of attack. During the times of the Macedonian king Alexander, the Persians