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Why did Darius I campaign against the Scythians?

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

Darius I campaigned against the Scythians primarily as part of an active expansionist policy to extend his rule into Europe. After consolidating his power within the Achaemenian Empire, Darius sought to establish a strong bridgehead in Europe, viewing the campaign as a strategic step toward further expansion.12

Beyond territorial ambition, the real strategic purpose behind the move was likely to disrupt and interrupt Greek trade with the Black Sea region, which served as a vital source of grain for Greece. By moving against the Scythians along the northern and western shores of the Black Sea, Darius aimed to exert control over these critical economic routes. Following his reconnaissance of the region, he launched the expedition around 513 BCE, ultimately leading to the establishment of a Persian presence in Thrace and Macedonia.21