Herodotus's History Xerxes addresses the Persians: "I have found out a way whereby we may at once win glory, and likewise get po
ssession of a land which is as large and as rich as our own . . . While at the same time we obtain satisfaction and revenge. . . . My intent is to . . . March an army through Europe against Greece, that thereby I may obtain vengeance from the Athenians from the wrongs committed by them against the Persians and against my father." —Herodotus The Persian Wars, Book VII What was Xerxes planning to do? a. colonize Northern Africa c. unite the Greek city-states b. conquer Greece d. build an acropolis
Interestingly, Xerxes's own statement shows that his goal was to conquer the Greek empire. Recall he said, <em>"I may obtain vengeance from the Athenians," </em>this shows <u>he had some grievances with Greece whose capital city was Athens.</u>
Darius, Xerxes father died without achieving his goal of conquering the entire greek empire, so as his son, Xerxes felt a desire to attempt doing what his father couldn't fully accomplish.
