10-11-2006, 05:46 PM
That's very true. Who knows if the Indians or Sogdians or Scythians weren't nipping away at the Eastern edges of the Persian Empire. Are records pretty lean regarding these possibilities?
But really, my main point was the failed Greek expeditions lead to constant court intrigue at home in Persia and revolts in the satrapies, with Persian foreign policy increasingly consisting of the coin rather than the sword. Who, but the most astute foreign policy analysts, would have known at the outset of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan that it would become one of the seminal causes of the downfall of the Soviets Union?
But really, my main point was the failed Greek expeditions lead to constant court intrigue at home in Persia and revolts in the satrapies, with Persian foreign policy increasingly consisting of the coin rather than the sword. Who, but the most astute foreign policy analysts, would have known at the outset of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan that it would become one of the seminal causes of the downfall of the Soviets Union?
Michael D. Hafer [aka Mythos Ruler, aka eX | Vesper]
In peace men bury their fathers. In war men bury their sons.
In peace men bury their fathers. In war men bury their sons.
