Battle of Plataea
The Battle of Plataea was the battle when Persia took over many Greek places but when they offered Athens a treaty, Athens declined it and decided to attack back. Out of the 300,000 Persian soldiers who entered this battle, only 43,000 survived. Greece only took casualties of about 1,000. During this battle, King Alexander I of Macedonia said quote: "Men of Athens, that which I am about to say I trust to your honor; and I charge you to keep it secret from all excepting Pausanias, if you would not bring me to destruction. Had I not greatly at heart the common welfare of Greece, I should not have come to tell you; but I am myself a Greek by descent, and I would not willingly see Greece exchange freedom for slavery. Know then that Mardonius and his army...have determined...as soon as day dawns...to engage in battle. If we prosper in this war...consider the risk I have run..to save you from being surprised by the barbarians."
Aftermath
The Battle of Mycale occurred on the same day, with the Greek fleet destroying the Persian in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Ionia. The Persian army, under the command of Artabazus, tried to retreat all the way back. Most of the 43,000 survivors were attacked and killed by the army of Alexander I of Macedon at the Strymon river. This ended the defensive tactic of the Persian War. However, this was the last time the Persians tried to invade the Greek mainland with the goal of total conquest. Another important and longer-lasting aftermath was that after the Persian wars, the Persian empire started recruiting and relying on Greek mercenaries. Eventually, especially after the March of the 10,000, their superior fighting ability was demonstrated, leading the way for Alexander the Great's conquests.