The Ionians were one of the four main tribes of ancient Greece. They settled the coast of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) in the 11th century BC and established a number of prosperous city-states, including Miletus, Ephesus, and Smyrna. The Ionians were known for their advanced culture, their love of philosophy and art, and their skill in trade and navigation.
In the 6th century BC, the Ionians came under the control of the Persian Empire. The Persians allowed the Ionians to retain their autonomy, but they imposed heavy taxes and demanded military service from the Greek cities. The Ionians resented Persian rule and eventually rebelled in 499 BC. The Ionian Revolt was unsuccessful, and the Persians brutally suppressed it.
The Ionian Revolt had a profound impact on the Greek world. It led to the outbreak of the Greco-Persian Wars, which lasted for over 50 years and ended with the victory of the Greeks. The Ionian Revolt also helped to spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond.
The Greeks cared what happened to the Ionians because they were fellow Greeks and because the Ionian Revolt had a profound impact on the Greek world.