The war was carried on with energy against Persia, and
hostilities continued at intervals for thirty years after the battle
of Plataea. [Footnote: B.C. 479-449.]
The chief leader in these enterprises was the heroic Cimon, leader of
the conservative party at Athens, and the great rival of Pericles; and
his most brilliant exploit was a crushing defeat inflicted on the
Persian army and fleet at the mouth of the river Eurymedon in
Pamphylia. But the victorious career of the Athenians received a
severe check twelve years later in Egypt, where a large force of ships
and men was totally destroyed by the Persian general Megabyzus. The
war dragged on for five years longer, and peace was then concluded on
terms highly advantageous to the Greeks. Shortly before this, Cimon,
who had been the chief promoter of the war, died at Cyprus.
The same years which brought to a successful issue the long struggle
with Persia witnessed a renewal of those internal conflicts by which
the energies of Greece were finally exhausted, leaving her an easy
prey to the arms of Macedon. The guilt of renewing these suicidal
quarrels lies with the Spartans, who had long been nursing their
grudge against Athens, and were waiting for the opportunity to inflict
on her a fatal blow.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25