Instead, the Greco-Persian Wars lasted over a decade, from 490 to 479 B.C.E. They ended with Greece defeating the Persians – a shocking upset.

The Wars of Antiquity: While it is impossible to chronicle the casualties of many ancient wars, in the 50-year long Greco-Persian Wars of the 5th century BC, less than 80,000 were killed.

In the 5th century BC, during the Greco-Persian wars, the Persian Empire set out to subjugate the Greek city-states. On the Greek side, one man had to prove his worth and defend his ideals.