The Persian Wars and the Birth of Classical Greece
Dec 14, 2026, 6:45 PM ET<a href="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/persian-wars?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/persian-wars?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223">smithsonianassociates.org…</a>
Historian Jeremy McInerney challenges the traditional view of the Persian Wars as a struggle between free Greeks and despotic Persians. He highlights the Persian Empire's stability, tolerance, and cultural achievements, while noting that Athens often acted tyrannically toward fellow Greeks. Rather than an inevitable clash of civilizations, the wars emerged from political miscalculations, logistical problems, and mutual misunderstandings. The result is a more balanced and complex account of both sides.