For five days the armies squared off with little movement. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The hoplite's main weapon was a spear, approximately two and a half meters long. It managed to endure six days of brutal siege before two noblemen of high standing betrayed the city and opened the gates, believing that their surrender would mean their survival. The marathon race is named after the false story that Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens (a distance of 26.2 miles) to deliver news of the victory. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 April 2013. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The Battle of Marathon was a conflict fought in 490 B.C. The historian Herodotus reports that their retreat was disciplined and organized. began the Golden Age of Athens It states that as dawn broke on the sixth day, the Greeks gazed across the plain of Marathon to see that the Persian cavalry forces had suddenly disappeared, right from under their noses. Battle of Marathon - Definition, Facts & Who Won - History He ran a distance of over 225 kilometers (140 miles), arriving in Sparta the day after he left. Ten years later the Wealth and resources seem an unlikely motive; other more plausible suggestions include the need to increase the prestige of the king at home or to quell once and for all a collection of potentially troublesome rebel states on the western border of the empire. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. He has a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Michigan. The left and right wings of the Greek army consisted of the normal eight-man columns. Athens and Sparta were able to galvanize a number of cities, previously petrified at the thought of a Persian attack, into defending their homeland. Also for the first time in military history, the phalanx in its entirety does not have the same mission. They fully understood the advantages that the Greeks were deriving from their position, and while they might be able to overwhelm them eventually by virtue of numbers, losing a large portion of their Persian forces on a foreign shore was a logistical problem that Datis was not willing to risk. They were joined by 1,000 Plataeans, which, according to Herodotus, greatly calmed the nerves of the Athenians. 10 generals at the head of 10,000 soldiers set out for Marathon, tight-lipped and fearful, but ready to fight to the last man if necessary. 3. ThoughtCo. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. WATCH: Championship Sunday weigh-in at the 2023 Marathon Aside from ushering in an era of hoplite warfare, it also ensured that Greek ideas would be able to flourish and spread. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. 1. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The Battle of Marathon occurred in 490 BCE, when the Persian Empire was at its height. He then joined the rest of Athenian army to march from Athens to Marathon to attempt to hold off the large Persian forces massing just off shore. With this declaration, Pheidippides likely thought it was the end of everything he knew and loved. They also relied on more mixed tactics. And the peoples of Peru were approximately 300 years away from cultivating the potato. Herodotus writes that before leaving the city, the Athenians sent a runner, Pheidippides, to Sparta to ask for aid. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. But the Greeks remained outnumbered and outmatched, the enemy they faced, according to ancient historians, standing at over 100,000 men strong. Mary has a Master's Degree in History with 18 advanced hours in Government. Greeces confidence in its ability to fight Persia, combined with a burning desire for revenge, would later enable the Greeks to follow the charismatic young Alexander the Great in his invasion of Persia, spreading Hellenism to the farthest reaches of ancient civilization and changing the future of the western world. The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece. "Persian Wars: Battle of Marathon." Seeing that the opportunity to strike the previously lightly-defended city had passed, the Persians withdrew back to Asia. Persian soldiers, on the other hand, were more lightly armored. Last modified April 16, 2013. This was later conflated with the victorious Athenian army marching back to Athens at a quickened pace. They had no choice but to make this stand with nothing but the help of a small allied force numbers and morale only bolstered by a detachment of soldiers from the nearby Greek city of Platea, repaying the support Athens had shown them in defending against an invasion some years prior. The Greeks, fielding the largest hoplite army ever seen, won the battle and finally ended Xerxes' ambitions in Greece. By the end of the battle, between 5,000 and 6,500 Persians lay dead on the field. The modern marathon race is named for this incorrect telling of events. 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Battle of Thermopylae - World History Encyclopedia Most of what we know comes to us from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who was writing of these events decades after they occurred. Upon arriving at Marathon, the Athenians drew up battle lines, but, seeing they were outnumbered by the Persians, waited to attack. There, they could attempt to bottleneck the Persian attack, minimize the numerical advantage that the Persian army brought, and hopefully keep them from reaching Athens until the Spartans could arrive. The battle began with an initial stalemate that lasted for five days, after which the Greeks attacked. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order When the two fleets finally met, the Greeks fought late in the day and therefore limited the duration of each skirmish which diminished the numerical advantage held by the Persians. In the face of this, the Greek generals concluded that their only option was to hold a defensive position for as long as possible, wedged between the fortified hills that surrounded the Bay of Marathon. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Apr 2013. The Persian army fought with tactics that proved inferior to those of the Greek hoplite armies. After a series of political negotiations it became clear that the Persians would not gain victory through diplomacy and the two armies met at Plataea in August 479 BCE. He began three years of preparation for an even larger assault on Greece, this time a full scale, massive invasion rather than a targeted raid for revenge. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. An error occurred trying to load this video. The Greek's further capitalized on this advantage by running into the battle, thus minimizing the amount of time they were exposed to the arrow fire. At the Battle of Marathon, Athens' underdog victory stunned Persia The surprise defeat of the mighty Persian Empire in 490 B.C. How did the Battle of Marathon affect Athens? The pass of Thermopylae, located 150 km north of Athens was an excellent choice for defence with steep mountains running down into the sea leaving only a narrow marshy area along the coast. Darius was beyond angry a persistent thorn in his side, the continued insolence from Athens was infuriating and so he dispatched his army under the leadership of Datis, his best admiral, heading first toward the conquest of Eretria, a city nearby and in close relations with Athens. The Persians could guess what the Greeks were up to they would have done the same had they been on the defensive and so they hesitated to launch a decisive frontal attack. Help us and translate this definition into another language! Cartwright, Mark. Why did Terry Fox Run the marathon of Hope? Inspired by Dick Traum, an amputee who had run the New York City Marathon, he decided to run across Canada to raise awareness for cancer. Thats how the Marathon of Hope was born. After training for more than a year, Terry Fox began his nearly impossible feat on April 12, 1980, on the east There are three different ways you can cite this article. Perhaps at this point the Theban contingent may have surrendered (although this is disputed amongst scholars). Ephialtes, son of Eurydemos, a local shepherd from Trachis, seeking reward from Xerxes, informed the Persians of an alternative route the Anopaia path which would allow them to avoid the majority of the enemy forces and attack their southern flank. Books The Battle of Marathon was a historic battle that saw the great and mighty army of Persia face off against the Greek city-state of Athens. Miltiades had his center form columns of only four men, rather than eight. Herodotus: History & Persian Wars | Who was Herodotus? After the battle, Xerxes ordered that Leonidas' head be put on a stake and displayed at the battlefield. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. The Greeks pursued them all the way to their ships, slaughtering the fleeing Persians along the way. Why did the Athenians win at Marathon? Along with the tangible and strategic factors that propelled the Athenians to victory were several intangibles that factored in their favor , including their love of freedom and rights as citizens that they did not want to lose; the fear of what the Persians would do to their city and families if they were to lose the The battle proved the superiority of the Greek long spear, sword, and armour over the Persians weapons. Not only Greek military ideas, but also Greek philosophical ideas survived and flourished thanks to the Greek victory over the Persians. He suggests that the summer heat of August may have pushed the runner The mens last two THEN THE GREEKS MARCHED BACK TO ATHENS TO DEFEND THE CITY AGAINST When did Terry Fox start his marathon of Hope? February 1979 Terry begins training for his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research and awareness. During his training he runs over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles). With the Persians closing in on the Greek capitol, Athenian general Miltiades assumed command of the hastily assembled army. The Persians had realized they couldnt stay in the bay indefinitely, and decided to make the move that would risk the least amount of life (for the Persians. Sailing with orders to attack Eretria and Athens, the fleet succeeded in sacking and burning their first objective. How old is the United States of America? It was a decision which bought time for the mobilization of Greek coalition forces that stood victorious against the same enemy at the decisive battles of Salamis and Platea tilting the scales of power in the Greco-Persian Wars towards Greece, and giving birth to an era of Athenian imperial expansion that eventually brought it to fight Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. The victory at Marathon may not have been a crushing defeat of Persia as a whole, but it still stands as a major turning point. Darius sent an army of around 25,000 or 30,000 soldiers to punish the Athenians and take control of Greece. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. With all prepared, the trumpets sounded and Miltiades ordered, At them!. Ten years later the Persians returned and achieved several victories before being expelled from Greece. Why was the battle of Marathon fought? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Free men, in respect of their own laws, had sacrificed themselves in order to defend their way of life against foreign aggression. The victory helped boost Greek morale and inspired confidence that their military could beat the Persians. Marathon Boston Marathon 2023: Results, news, and updates The Persian army had instilled fear in Greek cities for generations, and were believed to be practically undefeatable. That hope for leniency was met with severe and brutal disappointment as the Persians sacked the city, burned the temples, and enslaved the population. BATTLE OF MARATHON & BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE (BATTLEFIELDS As Greek and Persian warriors faced each other on the battlefield, the states of China were not yet a unified empire and would soon begin a centuries long period of warfare. Yet while those Greek scholars were laying the groundwork for our world today, the leaders and everyday citizens were concerned about being conquered, enslaved, or slaughtered by the powerful, unknown society to the East: the Persians. License. Datis chose to land his army at the Bay of Marathon, a largely sound military decision, as the natural promontory provided excellent shelter for his ships, and the plains onshore offered good movement for his cavalry. The pass had also been fortified by the local Phokians who built a defensive wall running from the so-called Middle Gate down to the sea. 1 What happened to Athens after the Battle of Marathon? - Mythology, Overview, Emperor Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire, King Henry IV of France: Biography & History, Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio: Analysis, Allegory of the Outbreak of War by Peter Paul Rubens, Altdorfer's The Battle of Alexander at Issus: Subject & Style, Lucas Cranach the Elder: Biography & Paintings, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The Athenians knew that to stay on the defensive in the battle of Marathon would mean returning to a destroyed home, their city plundered and burned. The Battle of Marathon still has influence on the world today, remembered in the worlds most popular international sporting event the Olympics. Meanwhile, the Immortals now entered the fray behind the Greeks who retreated to a high mound behind the Phokian wall. 3 What was the most important impact of the Battle of Marathon? This army met an army of about 11,000 Greeks at the bay of Marathon. Every hoplite carried a wooden shield, called a hoplon, with an outer layer made from bronze. Surprised by the Greeks' audacity, the Persians rushed to form their lines and inflict damage on the enemy with their archers and slingers (Map). Accessed May 1, 2023. The Spartan king, on the third day of the battle, rallied his small force - the survivors from the original Spartan 300, 700 Thespians and 400 Thebans - and made a rearguard stand to defend the pass to the last man in the hope of delaying the Persians progress, in order to allow the rest of the Greek force to retreat or also possibly to await relief from a larger Greek force. This experience provided him with something invaluable: a firm knowledge of Persian battle tactics. Led by Mardonius, this force succeeded in subjugating Thrace and Macedonia in 492 BC. World History Encyclopedia. Leonidas' bullish response to Xerxes request was 'moln labe' or 'come and get them' and so battle commenced. Tomb of the Plataeans at Marathon. In 486 BCE, Xerxes I (r. 486-465 BCE) became king upon the death of Darius and massive preparations for invasion were made. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Athens had been spared the revenge of Darius, though the Persian king was far from finished. The Athenian Treasury at Delphi was built out of the spoils of the battle. on the seaside Grecian plain of Marathon. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/the-battle-of-marathon/. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. READ MORE: 16 Oldest Ancient Civilizations. He had just run the full 40 kilometers from Marathon to Athens. that Darius would make strides towards the conquest of stronger Greek resistance. Forming his men, Militiades reinforced his wings by weakening his center. The Persian infantry carried a lightweight (often crescent-shaped) wicker shield and were armed with a long dagger or battleaxe, a short spear, and composite bow. Marathon Mound (soros) in which the Athenian dead were buried after the Battle of Salamis History & Strategy | Who Won the Battle of Salamis? Persian Emperors List & Timeline | Cyrus, Cambyses II & Darius, SAT Subject Test World History: Practice and Study Guide, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Test Prep & Practice, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Help and Review, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Tutoring Solution, UExcel World Conflicts Since 1900: Study Guide & Test Prep, Prentice Hall World History Connections to Today Volume 1: Online Textbook Help, McDougal Littell Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction: Online Textbook Help, Holt World History - Human Legacy: Online Textbook Help, Harcourt Social Studies - World History: Online Textbook Help, Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl Study Guide, Create an account to start this course today. Figure 1: A map of Ancient Greece with regional dialects. The Persian Empire landed a force of about 25,000 or 30,000 soldiers at the Bay of Marathon, where they were decisively defeated by a Greek force of about 11,000 hoplite soldiers. Because they could spread freely, these ideas greatly influenced the history of the world, particularly in the West. As panic spread in the Persian ranks, their lines began to break and they fled back to their ships. The romantic tale of the runners joyful sacrifice (which caught the imagination of 19th century writers and popularized the myth, but was in reality far more impressive, and far less tragic) tells of an incredible long distance run to beg the military assistance of Sparta, and the determined quick march of the battle-worn Athenians from Marathon back to Athens to defend their city. The Battle of Marathon is one of the many battles that Persians and Greeks fought against one another; it was also an important battle in deciding the future fate of Greece as a country of free men. The Roman Republic was only six years old. Darius the Great Overview & Quotes | Who was King Darius? The Greeks had no problem closing the distance and engaging the Persian army at close-range. 5 Where was the Athenians buried after the Battle of Marathon? Finding no battle to be fought, the Spartans toured the bloody battlefield, still littered with numerous rotting corpses the cremation and burial of which took days and offered their praise and congratulations. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thermopylae was an excellent choice for defence with mountains running down into the sea leaving only a narrow pass along the coast. Who was the Athenian runner who ran from Athens to Sparta? The Romans also adopted many Greek ideas and further spread them as they conquered their own vast territories. The rest of the Persian fleet still with a staggering 600 ships or more managed to escape, but 6,400 Persians lay dead on the battlefield, and more had drowned in the swamps. Why was the Battle of Marathon important? It is possible that the Persian cavalry was not present at this time, thus prompting the Greeks to attack at that moment. The Battle of Marathon was fought in August or September 490 BC during the Persian Wars (498 BC448 BC) between Greece and the Persian Empire. The Athenians had called upon every available soldier in order to have any chance against the Persians, and yet they were still outnumbered by at least two to one. Read about what happened at the Battle of Marathon in ancient Greece. The stress of dealing with a revolt in Egypt further exacerbated his poor health, and by October, he was dead. Instead, he turned around and made the incredible run, another 220 kilometers over rocky, mountainous terrain in just two days, back to Marathon, warning the Athenians that no immediate help could be expected from Sparta. The Greeks sent a no-nonsense reply by executing the envoys, and Athens and Sparta promised to form an alliance for the defence of Greece. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In their mutual refusal to bow down, the traditional rivals for power in the Grecian Peninsula had tied themselves together as both allies and leaders in the defense against Persia. Whatever the exact motives, in 491 BCE Darius sent envoys to call for the Greeks' submission to Persian rule. Persian Wars: Battle of Marathon. The Persian defeat at Marathon halted the Persian Empire's western expansion, and ensured continued Greek independence. The Battle of Marathon Persia wanted revenge for Athens disrespect, and they were going to get it. But their utter victory at Eretria, an ally of Athens and a city that they had laid siege to and enslaved after being offered surrender, was a tactical mistake that showed Persias hand. Some sources also indicate that Militiades had learned from Persian deserters that the cavalry was away from the field. Moreover, the Greek's armor and, particularly, shields helped negate the attacks from Persian archers. This victorys importance would become even more critical some years later, when Darius son, Xerxes I, launched a colossal invasion of Greece. When news of the invading force reached Greece, the initial Greek reaction was to send a force of 10,000 hoplites to hold position at the valley of Temp near Mt. AP World History - Ancient Greece: Tutoring Solution, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses.
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