https://www.ancient.eu/Persian_Wars/
The Persian Wars refers to the conflict between Greece and Persia in the 5th century BCE which involved two invasions by the latter in 490 and 480 BCE.
Several of the most famous and significant battles in history were fought during the Wars, these were at Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea, all of which would become legendary.
The Greeks were, ultimately, victorious and their civilization preserved.
If they had been defeated then the western world may not have inherited from them such lasting cultural contributions as democracy, classical architecture and sculpture, theater, and the Olympic Games.
King Xerxes continued his predecessor Darius’ vision, and in 480 BCE he gathered a huge invasion force to attack Greece again, this time via the pass at Thermopylae on the east coast.
In August 480 BCE a small band of Greeks led by Spartan King Leonidas held the pass for three days but were killed to a man. (the 300)
At the same time, the Greek fleet managed to hold off the Persians at the indecisive naval battle at Artemision. Together, these battles bought Greece time and allowed for its cities to steel themselves for the bigger challenges yet to come.
In the spirit of historian James Burke’s famous TV series “Connections”, here’s a little historical tidbit for you. The same “bad, evil” King Xerxes who wanted to conquer the “good noble” Greeks was also the “good” Persian King Ahasuerus the Bible refers to in the Book of Daniel, who granted the appeal from his Hebrew wife Esther to spare her fellow Hebrews, as celebrated in the Feast of Purim.