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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