Army
- They turned next against the Greeks who were commercial rivals of Persian Phoenicia. In 550 BC a huge floating bridge was built across the Bosphorus Strait, linking Asia and Europe.
- All Persian men to the age of 50 years were obligated to serve in the armies of the Persian Empire.
- At the age of 20 they were eligible for military service.The army consisted mainly of four types of units: spearmen for infantry shock combat, foot archers to act as skirmishers, light cavalry armed mainly with bows, and heavy cavalry that wore some armor and carried spears.