BATTLE OF MARATHON

ANTHONY ENRIQUEZ

THE ATTACK ON ATHENS: 490 BC

INTRODUCTION

Greek city states such as Athens and Sparta had often fought among themselves, though the Greek’s great, potential and dangerous foreign enemy was Persia. During the 5th century BC, Greek city states and the Persian Empire clashed in a series of wars. These wars between Greece and Persia were known as the Greco-Persian Wars and lasted until 448 BC. Historically, the Greek armies were quite small in comparison to the Persian army. Though considered underdogs throughout the course of the war, the Greeks were relentless and never gave in to the Persians. Of importance of all battles fought between the Greeks and Persian, the Battle at Marathon was deemed one of the significant battles fought in antiquity.

DARIUS I AND ATHENS

Persia had several reasons for their attack on Athens at Marathon: Eretria was to be

punished. Capture of Athens -

foothold on central Greece.

Persian influence - extended over the whole of Greece

THE BATTLE OF MARATHON, 490 BC Darius I - land his army at Marathon (march on to

Athens). Athens - dire need of help; Sparta for forces to join in

the battle. Sparta sent 600 hoplites to join Athens’s 9000

hoplites. Greek army - led by War Archon Callimachus and

Miltiades. Persian army - 20 000 infantry, 5000 cavalry, 200

triremes and 40 000 sailors. Greeks lined up and advanced across the plain of

Marathon – towards Persian army.

THE BATTLE OF MARATHON, 490 BC

Callimachus - right flank; Plateans – left flank. Tactic – (Greek) More hoplites on the flanks than in the

centre. Flanks - Persians overpowered by Greeks; the centre,

Persians had broken through Greek defence. Strong tactics and leadership led to the collapse of the

Persian offence and therefore a defeat for the Persian Empire.

March on to Athens (Greeks) – to prevent another invasion.

Causalities - 6400 dead (Persians) to only 192 men (Greeks).

IMAGES

WHY THE ATHENIANS AND PLATAEANS WON AT MARATHON?

No #1: Leadership and Strategy Miltiades had first-hand knowledge and

experience of Persian methods Choice – Marathon proving suitable for the

Athenians (strategic) Time – right time to engage the Persians

Absence of Persian cavalry Persians – confined to sea and the hills

(chance of escape to N) - Escape

WHY THE ATHENIANS AND PLATAEANS WON AT MARATHON?

No #2: Skill, discipline

and arms of the Athenian

and Plataean hoplites Greek hoplites – more

disciplined Bronze-visored helmets,

solid bronze breastplates, shields and javelins

WHY THE ATHENIANS AND PLATAEANS WON AT MARATHON?

No #3: Greeks’

defence of their

freedom Desire for freedom

WHY THE ATHENIANS AND PLATAEANS WON AT MARATHON?

No #4: Fear of Sparta’s

arrival Spartans – ‘real’

influence on the campaign

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MARATHONFor the Persians: ‘Reality check’ - Persia’s plans for Western

Expansion. Left Persia weakened for the moment. Darius I - Determined Realization - the mistake in their strategy. In

any future invasion they would return to the plan of Mardonius in 942; that is, a combined military and naval advance around the northern Aegean.

Preparation - more careful preparations

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MARATHON

For the Greeks; ‘Moral victory’ for Athens. Belief – Persians were unbeatable (UNTRUE). Spartans learnt of the conditions under which the

Persian infantry could be defeated. Greeks underestimate danger - However, in their

optimism the Greeks underestimated the future danger to them. Plutarch says, believed that Marathon ‘was only the prelude to a far greater struggle’.

Victory for democracy.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MARATHON

Athens gained in prestige. Marathon - the image of the ‘men of

Marathon’ took on heroic proportions. Victory was almost unbelievable. The overwhelming might of the Persian

Empire could be defeated. The victory for the rest of Greece.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MARATHON Honour and glory, praise and prestige for this defeat

of the barbarian - becoming the first city in Greece. The most obvious example of this is the Marathon

race. The poet Pindar lauded Athens as ‘Bulwark of Hellas

… city of doglike men.’ Marathon loomed large in the Athenian psyche; the men of Marathon were regarded as heroes.

Athenians and the rest of Greece honoured the Marathon fighters.

Mound of Marathon

Bronze helmet

THE ‘PROCESS’

Essay:Structure: Introduction, Body,

ConclusionDay by day adding information to the

essayEssay count: Approx. 2000-2500

DIFFICULTIES

Difficulties:Time ManagementNo ‘Internet’Essaying – structure; making it right;

‘great’Sources – books and Internet Wasting time during class

IMPROVEMENTS

Time ManagementAffiliation of Keywords – outline,

evaluateProper use of sourcesEssay – ‘good’ standardsCompletion – not doing it before the day

its dueSpeech

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=100009096&messageID=300418309

http://raf.heavengames.com/history/civilization/greek/page4

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A10083395 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Battle_of_Marathon#Conclusion http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/marathon.htm http://www.thenagain.info/Classes/Sources/

Herodotus-Marathon.html http://www.essortment.com/all/

thebattleofma_rwnl.htm

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://joseph_berrigan.tripod.com/ancientbabylon/id27.html

http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-marathon-greeks-versus-the-persians.htm/2#high_4

http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/histn/histn021.pdf http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?

Dir=eras&FileName=greece_4.php http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/the-

battle-of-marathon/ http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/History/

hakhamaneshian/marathon.htm

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ancient Greece: Using Evidence, Pamela Bradley

Your Ancient Greece, John D. Clare The Greeks, Roy Burrell