Editing Scythians (section)

===Expansionism===
A consequence of this consolidation of the Scythian kingdom was an increase in its expansionism and militarism. To the southeast, the Scythians came into conflict with their splinter tribe of the [[Sindi people|Sindi]], whom they fought by crossing the frozen Cimmerian Bosporus during the winter. In the west, nearby [[Thrace]] became a target following the Achaemenid retreat from Europe,{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=29}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} with the Scythians gaining free access to the [[Wallachian Plain|Wallachian]] and [[Moldavian Plain|Moldavian]] Steppes{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=208}} and to the south of the Istros river].{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=209}} In 496 BC, the Scythians launched a raid until as far south as the [[Dardanelles|Hellespont]].<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Melyukova|1990|p=101}}|{{harvnb|Melyukova|1995|p=29}}|{{harvnb|Batty|2007|p=208}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|2018}}}}</ref> The Scythians' inroads in Thrace were however soon stopped by the emergence of the [[Odrysian kingdom]] in this region, following which the Scythian and Odrysian kingdoms mutually established the Istros as their common border around {{c.|480 BC}}:{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=209}}{{sfn|Alekseyev|2005|p=44}} from then on, the Scythians and Thracians borrowed from the other's art and lifestyle; marriage between the Scythian and Odrysian aristocracies and royal families were also concluded.{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=209}}

A second direction where the Scythian kingdom expanded was in the north and north-west: the Scythian kingdom had continued its attempts to impose its rule on the forest steppe peoples and by the 5th century BC, it was finally able to complete the process after destroying their fortified settlements.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Melyukova|1995|p=51}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|2018}}|{{harvnb|Cunliffe|2019|p=113}}|{{harvnb|Cunliffe|2019|p=119}}}}</ref> Their cultures later fused with that of the Scythians.{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=51-52}} During the 5th century BC, Scythian rule over the forest steppe people became increadingly dominating and coercive, leading to a decline of their sedentary agrarian lifestyle.{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=54-55}} This in turn resulted in a reduction in the importation of Greek goods by the peoples of the forest steppe in the 5th century BC.{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=210}}

The peaceful relations which had until then prevailed between the Scythian kingdom and the Greek colonies of the northern Pontic region came to an end during the period of expansionism in the early 5th century BC, when the Scythian kings for the first time started trying to impose their rule over the Greek colonies.{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} The Greek cities erected defensive installations while losing their agricultural production base.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Jacobson|1995|p=40}}|{{harvnb|West|2002|p=454}}|{{harvnb|Batty|2007|p=198}}|{{harvnb|Ivantchik|2018}}}}</ref> At the same time, because the Scythian kingdom still needed to trade with the Greeks in the lower Tanais region, in the early 5th century BC it replaced the destroyed Greek colony of Krēmnoi with a Scythian settlement.{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} The hold of the Scythian kingdom on this region became firmer under Scyles, who was successfully able to impose Scythian rule on the Greek colonies such as [[Nikōnion]], [[Tyras]], Pontic Olbia, and [[Yevpatoria|Kerkinitis]].{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=209}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} Scyles' control over Nikōnion was at the time it was a member of the [[Delian League]], putting it under the simultaneous hegemony of both the Scythian kingdom and [[Classical Athens|Athens]]. This allowed the Scythian kingdom to engage in relations with Athens when it was at the height of its power.{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=209}} In consequence, a community of Scythians also lived in Athens at this time, as attested by Scythian graves in the [[Kerameikos]] cemetery.{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=55}}

The Scythian kingdom was however less successful at conquering other Greek colonies, around 30 of which, including [[Myrmēkion]], [[Tyritakē]], and [[Porthmeus]], banded together into an alliance and successfully defended their independence. After this, they united into the [[Bosporan kingdom]].{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=573}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}}{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=125}} The Bosporan kingdom soon became a centre of production for Scythian customers living in the steppes and contributed to the development of Scythian art and style.{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=573}} Despite the conflicts between the Scythian kingdom and the Greek cities, mutually beneficial exchanges between the Scythians, Maeotians and Greeks continued.{{sfn|Jacobson|1995|p=11}} There was consequently a considerable migration of Scythians into Pontic Olbia at this time.{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=198}}{{sfn|Batty|2007|p=209}} The Greek colonies of the Black Sea coast continued adhering to their Hellenic culture while their population was very mixed.{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=128}} During this period Greek influences also became more significant among the Scythians, especially among the aristocracy.{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=109}}