The Greek-Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the city-states of Greece and the Persian Empire that occurred in the 5th century BCE. The wars began with the Ionian Revolt in 499 BCE, where Greek cities in Asia Minor rebelled against Persian rule. This prompted the Persian king Darius I to seek revenge, leading to significant battles such as the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. The conflict continued under Darius's successor, Xerxes I, who launched a massive invasion of Greece in 480 BCE. Key battles during this phase included the Battle of Thermopylae, where a small Greek force famously held off the Persians, and the Battle of Salamis, a naval victory for the Greeks. Ultimately, the wars ended with the defeat of the Persians, securing Greek independence and influencing Western civilization.