2. Greco-Persian Wars
Ancient Greece, despite what the name suggests, wasnt actually one country, rather a collection of city states, including Sparta and Athens. The Classical era of Ancient Greece lasted through the 5th and 4th centuries BC, and it is often regarded by historians as one the foundations of western civilisation philosophy, architecture and democracy, among other things, are regarded as Greek influences on the modern world. Between 492 and 479 BC, the various Greek city-states combined forces to defend their land from Persians. Mardonius led an army through Thrace and Macedon, but, despite being victorious, he was wounded and forced to return to Asia Minor. His naval fleet, which consisted of 1200 ships, was also wrecked by a storm off the coast of Mount Athos. In 490 BC, Darius the Great sent an army, rumoured to be made of 100,000 Persians (estimates often fluctuate depending on the source) to capture Athens. They landed at Attica, but were defeated at the Battle of Marathon by an army of 9000, under the control of the Athenian General Miltiades. Ten years later Xerxes sent an army of 300,000, with 1200 ships in support, taking Thrace, Thessaly and Boetia in quick succession. Leonidas and his 300, as made famous by the film, bravely, but unsuccessfully, attempted to halt the armys progress. Xerxes eventually captured Athens, although the citizens had already escaped. At the Battle of Salamis, Themistocles led the Greek fleet to a vital victory over the Persian ships. Soon after, Xerxes was forced to send a majority of his army to quell the unrest in Babylon, leaving a force under Mardonius to control Greece. In 479 BC, at the Battle of Plataea, an alliance of the Greek city states, including Athens and Sparta, finally defeated the Persian army. This was the final time any Persian force would attempt to invade Greece. The issue with Assassin Creed games is that, while they have to take place in interesting places during interesting times, they must include assassinations, not mass open warfare. Athens and Sparta would be a great place to set a game. The Greco-Persian wars also included many sea battles, taking advantage of the naval aspect of the game.