Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/35

 so History of Art in Antiquity. submission without striking a single bipw. ' The Persian empire had now attained a far greater extent than any previously known in the East, and in the following reign the annexation of Egypt by Cambyses gathered under one soeptre all the r^ons that had witnessed the birth and development of truly antique civilizations. The new empire had yet another advantage over .its predecessors ; for whilst with these the sea had always opposed an impenetrable .barrier and checked their westward progress* not only was the Mediterranean open to the former, but it could rely on the co-operatkm of the most powerful fleet ploughing its waters. Phoenician towns had staked their very existence sooner than open their gates to Shalmanezer and Nebuchadnezzar ; with true Punic instinct, however, they now perceived that material and substantial advantages would accrue to them by adoption of a different policy. Consequently the Great king could henceforward reckon on the eager concurrence of the trading and war ships of Phoenicia, whose services, she knew full well, would be amply repaid.',. . . Assured of an ally in the western sea, the ambitious designs of Persia rose to levels undreamt of by the older monarchies, and led her to challenge a young civilization, brought to her notice by Ionia, whose independent spirit grated on her susceptibilities and irritated her as a personal affront The Persians crossed the straits which separate Asia from Europe, and occupied Thracia and Mace- donia, whence they poured myriads of Asiatics into tiny Greece ; not suspecting the while — because unable correctly to gauge — the mental fibre, the spring and power of resistance the Greeks possessed, and which they owed to the free institutions the city franchise had given them. The unequal conflict known under the name of " Median wars " resulted in the discomfiture of Persia and the loss of whatever ground she had gained in Europe; whilst her hold on the Greek cities of Asia Minor was relaxed, and her authority so impaired as to require the force of arms to be maintained. From that time Persia was obliged to keep on the defensive, and to rely on the adroitness of her diplo- matic agents rather than the strength of her battalions. These were needed to keep in subjection provinces — such as Egypt, for instance — which were not of a temper to resign themselves quietly the attentions they showed the Great king, see Herodotus, iii. lo. Digitized by Google
 * In regard to the alacrity with which the Phoenicians submitted to Persia, and