ISSN 2039-2117 (online) ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 6 No 3 S2 May 2015 257 Athens and the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 508/7 BC: Prologue to the Conflict Eduard Rung Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies, Russian Federation Email: eduard_rung@mail.ru Doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p257 Abstract The paper considers the beginning of the relations between Athens and the Achaemenid Persian Empire. It covers the crucial period of transition from Archaic to the Classical period in the Greek History as well as the time of the expansion of the Achaemenid Empire into the West. This paper deals primarily with the events from diplomatic history anticipated the Greco- Persian Wars. The material having been considered in this paper is significant for understanding of reasons for this first global conflict in the world history. Keywords: Greeks, Persians, diplomacy, international relations, war, empire, polis. Introduction: Historical Situation 1. This paper considers the reasons and circumstances of the Athenians’ involvement into relations with the Persians for first time. In 540s the Persians proceeded to subdue the Greeks of Asia Minor, initially led by Harpagus and then by Mazares, both Cyrus’ generals (Petit, 1985). Cambyses, son of Cyrus the Great, had the Ionians and the Aeolians as his subordinates when he led an expedition against Egypt in 526. Darius I who ascended the throne after Cambyses’ death and assassination of usurper Gaumata in 523, also controlled many Greek coastal cities which were situated inside the Persian Empire, not only in Asia, but in Europe, and subdued some Greek cities and islands (on Darius’ attitude towards the Greeks: Cook, 1985; Young, 1988; Briant, 2002). He also installed tyrants from his loyal Greek supporters in a number of cities, which were under his control (Graf, 1985; Austin, 1990; Luraghi, 1998). While the Spartans had remained on unfriendly terms with the Persians since Cyrus the Great, the Athenians, who were involved for a century in internal problems, principally Solon’s reforms and tyranny of the Peisistratids, abstained from any contacts with the Persians until the reign of Darius I. Meanwhile the Athenians decided to have been involved into contacts with Achaemenid Persia in 508/7 B.C. The reasons and circumstances for this Athenian decision are clarified by the Herodotus’ report. The First Athenian Embassy to Persia 2. Herodotus (5. 73) writes on this Athenian embassy as follows: “After that, the Athenians sent to bring back Cleisthenes and the seven hundred households banished by Cleomenes. Then, desiring to make an alliance with the Persians, they dispatched envoys to Sardis, for they knew that they had provoked the Lacedaemonians and Cleomenes to war. When the envoys came to Sardis and spoke as they had been bidden, Artaphrenes son of Hystaspes, viceroy of Sardis, asked them, “What men are you and where do you live, who desire alliance with the Persians?” When he had received the information he wanted from the envoys, he gave them an answer the substance of which was that if the Athenians gave king Darius earth and water, then he would make an alliance with them, but if not, his command was that they should depart. The envoys consulted together, and in their desire to make the alliance, they consented to give what was asked. They then returned to their own country and were there greatly blamed for what they had done” (translation by A.D. Godley). So, Herodotus (5. 73) reports that the Athenians sent their envoys to Sardis only in 508/7 to negotiate an alliance with the Persians and thereby to prevent an anticipated Spartan invasion of Attica under king Cleomenes I, who wished to interfere in the factional strife in Athens on behalf of Isagoras, the political opponent of the great reformer Cleisthenes. J.A.R. Munro (1899) and Ed. Meyer (1958) made Cleisthenes responsible for the Athenian embassy to Sardis. E.M. Walker (1930) considered that the family of Cleisthenes had already before maintained the various contacts