The persian wars began when the the ionian people revolt against the persians. from that time, the greeks and persians became enemies. they fought a series of wars over 50 years. started the first war to punish the greeks for their support of the ionian revolt. the greeks defeated his forces at the . but after his death, his son xerxes i sent the persian military to invade greece again. in 479 bc, the fighting ended with .