Summary: The Scythians used fast raids and scorched-earth tactics to evade and defeat enemies, including Persians under Darius. Darius chased them far into the steppe, built forts, but could not bring them to a decisive battle. The Scythians allied with neighboring tribes and relied on mobility and empty land to survive.
So long as they see us with arms in our hands, they imagine themselves our equals in birth and bravery; but let them be- hold us with no other weapon but the whip, and they will feel that they are our slaves, and flee before us. (View Highlight)
Now some say that the Ocean begins in the east, and runs the whole way round the world; (View Highlight)
Unless, Persians, ye can turn into birds and fly up into the sky. or become mice and bur- row under the ground, or make yourselves frogs, and take refuge in the fens, ye will never make escape from this land, but die pierced by our arrows. (View Highlight)