a smaller history of greece-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The colonies in Macedonia and Thrace were very numerous； and extended all along the coast of the AEgean； of the Hellespont； of the Propontis； and of the Euxine； from the borders of Thessaly to the mouth of the Danube。 Of these we can only glance at the most important。 The colonies on the coast of Macedonia were chiefly founded by Chalcis and Eretria in Euboea； and the peninsula of Chalcidice； with its three projecting headlands； was covered with their settlements； and derived its name from the former city。 The Corinthians likewise planted a few colonies on this coast； of which Potidaea； on the narrow isthmus of Pallene； most deserves mention。
Of the colonies in Thrace； the most flourishing were Selymbria and Byzantium； both founded by the Megarians； who appear as an enterprising maritime people at an early period。
CHAPTER VII。
THE PERSIAN WARS。FROM THE IONIC REVOLT TO THE BATTLE OF MARATHON； B。C。 500…490。
The Grecian cities on the coast of Asia Minor were the neighbours of an Asiatic power which finally reduced them to subjection。 This was the kingdom of Lydia； of which Sardis was the capital。 Croesus； the last and most powerful of the Lydian kings； who ascended the throne B。C。 560； conquered in succession all the Grecian cities on the coast。 His rule； however； was not oppressive； and he permitted the cities to regulate their own affairs。 He spoke the Greek language； welcomed Greek guests； and reverenced the Greek oracles； which he enriched with the most munificent offerings。 He extended his dominions in Asia Minor as far as the river Halys； and he formed a close alliance with Astyages； king of the Medes； who were then the ruling race in Asia。 Everything seemed to betoken uninterrupted prosperity； when a people hitherto almost unknown suddenly became masters of the whole of western Asia。
The Persians were of the same race as the Medes and spoke a dialect of the same language。 They inhabited the mountainous region south of Media； which slopes gradually down to the low grounds on the coast of the Persian gulf。 While the Medes became enervated by the corrupting influences to which they were exposed； the Persians preserved in their native mountains their simple and warlike habits。 They were a brave and hardy nation； clothed in skins； drinking only water； and ignorant of the commonest luxuries of life。 Cyrus led these fierce warriors from their mountain fastnesses； defeated the Medes in battle； took Astyages prisoner； and deprived him of his throne。 The other nations included in the Median empire submitted to the conqueror； and the sovereignty of Upper Asia thus passed from the Medes to the Persians。 The accession of Cyrus to the empire is placed in B。C。 559。 A few years afterwards Cyrus turned his arms against the Lydians； took Sardis； and deprived Croesus of his throne （B。C。 546）。 The fall of Croesus was followed by the subjection of the Greek cities in Asia to the Persian yoke。 They offered a brave but ineffectual resistance； and were taken one after the other by Harpagus the Persian general。 Even the islands of Lesbos and Chios sent in their submission to Harpagus； although the Persians then possessed no fleet to force them to obedience。 Samos； on the other hand； maintained its independence； and appears soon afterwards one of the most powerful of the Grecian states。
During the reign of Cambyses （B。C。 529…521）； the son and successor of Cyrus； the Greek cities of Asia remained obedient to their Persian governors。 It was during this reign that Polycrates； tyrant of Samos； became the master of the Grecian seas。 The ambition and good fortune of this enterprising tyrant were alike remarkable。 He possessed a hundred ships of war； with which he conquered several of the islands； and he aspired to nothing less than the dominion of Ionia； as well as of the islands in the AEgean。 The Lacedaemonians； who had invaded the island at the invitation of the Samian exiles； for the purpose of overthrowing his government； were obliged to retire； after besieging his city in vain for forty days。 Everything which he undertook seemed to prosper； but his uninterrupted good fortune at length excited the alarm of his ally Amasis； the king of Egypt。 According to the tale related by Herodotus； the Egyptian king； convinced that such amazing good fortune would sooner or later incur the envy of the gods； wrote to Polycrates； advising him to throw away one of his most valuable possessions and thus inflict some injury upon himself。 Thinking the advice to be good； Polycrates threw into the sea a favourite ring of matchless price and beauty； but unfortunately it was found a few days afterwards in the belly of a fine fish which a fisherman had sent him as a present。 Amasis now foresaw that the ruin of Polycrates was inevitable； and sent a herald to Samos to renounce his alliance。 The gloomy anticipations of the Egyptian monarch proved well founded。 In the midst of all his prosperity Polycrates fell by a most ignominious fate。 Oroetes； the satrap of Sardis； had for some unknown cause conceived a deadly hatred against the Samian despot。 By a cunning stratagem the satrap allured him to the mainland； where he was immediately arrested and hanged upon a cross （B。C。 522）。
The reign of Darius； the third king of Persia。 （B。C。 521…485）； is memorable in Grecian history。 In his invasion of Scythia； his fleet； which was furnished by the Asiatic Greeks； was ordered to sail up the Danube and throw a bridge of boats across the river。 The King himself； with his land forces； marched through Thrace； and； crossing the bridge； placed it under the care of the Greeks； telling them that； if he did not return within sixty days； they might break it down； and sail home。 He then left them； and penetrated into the Scythian territory。 The sixty days had already passed away； and there was yet no sign of the Persian army； but shortly afterwards the Greeks were astonished by the appearance of a body of Scythians； who informed them that Darius was in full retreat； pursued by the whole Scythian nation； and that his only hope of safety depended upon that bridge。 They urged the Greeks to seize this opportunity of destroying the Persian army； and of recovering their own liberty； by breaking down the bridge。 Their exhortations were warmly seconded by the Athenian Miltiades； the tyrant of the Thracian Chersonesus； and the future conqueror of Marathon。 The other rulers of the Ionian cities were at first disposed to follow his suggestion； but as soon as Histiaeus of Miletus reminded them that their sovereignty depended upon the support of the Persian king； and that his ruin would involve their own； they changed their minds and resolved to await the Persians。 After enduring great privations and sufferings Darius and his army at length reached the Danube and crossed the bridge in safety。 Thus the selfishness of these Grecian despots threw away the most favourable opportunity that ever presented itself of delivering their native cities from the Persian yoke。 To reward the services of Histiaeus； Darius gave him the town of Myrainus； near the Strymon。 Darius； on his return to Asia； left Megabazus in Europe with an army of 80；000 men to complete the subjugation of Thrace and of the Greek cities upon the Hellespont。 Megabazus not only subdued the Thracians； but crossed the Strymon； conquered the Paeonians； and penetrated as far as the frontiers of Macedonia。 He then sent heralds into the latter country to demand earth and water； the customary symbols of submission。 These were immediately granted by Amyntas； the reigning monarch （B。C。 510）； and thus the Persian dominions were extended to the borders of Thessaly。 Megabazus； on his return to Sardis； where Darius awaited him； informed the Persian monarch that Histiaeus was collecting the elements of a power which might hereafter prove formidable to the Persian sovereignty； since Myrcinus commanded the navigation of the Strymon； and consequently the commerce with the interior of Thrace。 Darius； perceiving that the apprehensions of his general were not without foundation； summoned Histiaeus to his presence； and； under the pretext that he could not bear to be deprived of the company of his friend； carried him
