How did Scythian tactics force Darius I to retreat from Europe?

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Darius the Great — Darius I This chromolithograph of a frieze at Susa depicts attendants serving Darius I.

In 513 BCE, Darius I led a campaign into European Scythia by crossing the Danube River on a pontoon bridge. The Scythians, a nomadic people known for their exceptional horsemanship and mobility, employed a strategy of tactical retreat.123

As the Persian army advanced deep into the territory (in what is now Ukraine), the Scythians systematically devastated the land, leaving no resources for the invaders. By refusing to engage in a direct, pitched battle, the Scythians forced Darius to outrun his lines of supply. Once the Persian forces were overextended and suffering from a critical lack of provisions, the Scythians harassed them as they turned back. Consequently, Darius was forced to abandon the campaign and retreat to ensure the survival of his army.12