What were the major military campaigns of the Persian Empire?

The major military campaigns of the Persian Empire include:

1. The Ionian Revolt (499-493 BCE): This campaign was a response to the Greek city-states' rebellion against Persian rule in Asia Minor. The Persians successfully suppressed the revolt and reestablished control over the region.

2. The Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BCE): These series of conflicts were fought between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states, primarily Athens and Sparta. The Persians launched two major invasions of Greece, known as the First and Second Persian Invasions, but were ultimately defeated in the Battle of Plataea and the Battle of Mycale.

3. The Conquest of Egypt (525 BCE): The Persian Empire, under the rule of Cambyses II, successfully invaded and conquered Egypt, incorporating it into their empire.

4. The Conquest of Babylon (539 BCE): The Persian king Cyrus the Great captured the city of Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire and establishing the Persian Empire as a major power in the region.

5. The Conquest of Lydia (546 BCE): The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, conquered the kingdom of Lydia, which was ruled by King Croesus. This conquest expanded Persian control over Asia Minor.

6. The Conquest of Media (550 BCE): Cyrus the Great defeated the Median Empire, establishing the Persian Empire as the dominant power in the region.

7. The Conquest of Bactria (c. 330 BCE): Under the rule of Alexander the Great, the Persian Empire was conquered, including the region of Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan).

These military campaigns played a significant role in shaping the Persian Empire's territorial expansion and its interactions with neighboring civilizations.