One of the main reasons why this occurred was because demand for furs increased dramatically in Europe, due to their value that could be used to buy spices and other goods.
I want to say entrepreneurship, but there's also free economy enterprise, so... I'm gonna go with entrepreneurship.
Answer:
Lydia, with its capital at Sardis, rose to its greatest prominence under the reign of the Mermnad dynasty (c. 700 - 546 BCE).
When Cyrus II, King of Persia, invaded Sardis in 547 BCE, it became obvious that the lack of a defensive wall protecting the lower city was not a wise choice. The Lydian king Croesus simply retreated to the upper town, and the Persian army controlled the lower city with very little resistance.
Explanation: