02-13-2012, 07:43 AM
Unfortunately George, I'd have to disagree root and branch. Were Greece invaded by the numbers Herodotus proposes you'd be speaking Farsi.
Of course the lands under Persian control could feed themselves. Just as the various ancient communities of Europe could. Thus the various lands fed what soldiery lived from its produce. That is an entirely different matter to assembling such a multitude in the one place and doing so.
Quote:If the Persian state was able to feed xxx.xxx soldiers at home, it could feed them abroad as long as it could transport the supplies to them. That the Persian Empire could feed not 1 or 2 but 50 million people there is no doubt.
Of course the lands under Persian control could feed themselves. Just as the various ancient communities of Europe could. Thus the various lands fed what soldiery lived from its produce. That is an entirely different matter to assembling such a multitude in the one place and doing so.
Paralus|Michael Park
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
