In defeating the Persians, they helped ensure the continued independence of Greece from Persian rule. The modern running event takes its name from his supposed actions. 6 Who was the Athenian runner who ran from Athens to Sparta? At that time, the Ionian Greeks were subject to the Persian King Darius I. 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. 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. The battle occurred on the beach, near the Persian ships, and can be visualized using the map of the Battle of Marathon in figure 2. Discover the significance of the Battle of Marathon through maps and historical accounts. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Sailing with orders to attack Eretria and Athens, the fleet succeeded in sacking and burning their first objective. The Persian cavalry were armed as the foot soldiers, with a bow and an additional two javelins for throwing and thrusting. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. 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. 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. Battle of Marathon, (September 490 bce), in the Greco-Persian Wars, decisive battle fought on the Marathon plain of northeastern Attica in which the Athenians, in a single afternoon, repulsed the first Persian invasion of Greece. There are three different ways you can cite this article. As a result, the Spartan army was unwilling to march north until the next full moon which was over a week away. Greece was about to face its greatest ever threat, and even the oracle at Delphi ominously advised the Athenians to 'fly to the world's end'. He claimed that the day before the battle a messenger, Phidippides, was sent to Sparta with a request for help. Who was the winner of the Battle of Marathon? The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-html/, The XYZ Affair: Diplomatic Intrigue and a Quasi-War with France, 3/5 Compromise: The Definition Clause that Shaped Political Representation, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: The Complete List from Aboriginals to Incans, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? On a sweltering summer day, the nine elected magisterial archons of Athens waited breathlessly for news, surrounded by a restless crowd of citizens. The Greek victory over the Persians also proved the superiority of the phalanx over the tactics used by eastern powers. Athens and Eretria agreed and sent a number of ships. Figure 1: A map of Ancient Greece with regional dialects. At this point, the Greek center struggled against the Persian center. They were joined by 1,000 Plataeans and assistance was requested from Sparta. Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. The Spartans toured the battlefield at Marathon, and agreed that the Athenians had won a great victory. The historian Herodotus reports that their retreat was disciplined and organized. 30 chapters | Political Aspects of the Classical Age of Greece, Wars of the Alexander the Great: Battle of Chaeronea, Persian Wars - Battle of Marathon - 490 BCE, Biography of Artemisia I, Warrior Queen of Halicarnassus, Rulers of the Persian Empire: Expansionism of Cyrus and Darius, The Battle of Gaugamela During the Wars of Alexander the Great, The Peloponnesian War: Causes of the Conflict, M.S., Information and Library Science, Drexel University, B.A., History and Political Science, Pennsylvania State University. The Greeks pursued them all the way to their ships, slaughtering the fleeing Persians along the way. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, the Persian king, Darius the Great, was greatly angered by Greek meddling in what he considered to be Persian affairs. In the resulting battle, the Persian arrows proved almost entirely ineffective against Greek armor and shields. The Athenian and Plataean dead of Marathon were buried on the battlefield in two tumuli. Forming his men, Militiades reinforced his wings by weakening his center. Upon arriving at Marathon, the Athenians drew up battle lines, but, seeing they were outnumbered by the Persians, waited to attack. Sending them up the coast to land them closer to the undefended city of Athens. 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. Tomb of the Plataeans at Marathon. These ideas were spread much further by the conquests of Alexander the Great, who eventually destroyed the Persian Empire in 336 BCE. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The second day followed the pattern of the first, and the Greek forces still held the pass. World History Encyclopedia. It often said that the battle of Marathon was one of the few really decisive battles in history. Left to fend for themselves, the Athenian and Plataeans continued to prepare for battle. Cyrus the Great Facts & Achievements | Who was King Cyrus the Great? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Why was the battle of Marathon fought? Meanwhile, the Immortals now entered the fray behind the Greeks who retreated to a high mound behind the Phokian wall. 1. As an interesting footnote: the important strategic position of Thermopylae meant that it was once more the scene of battle in 279 BCE when the Greeks faced invading Gauls, in 191 BCE when a Roman army defeated Antiochus III, and even as recent as 1941 CE when Allied New Zealand forces clashed with those of Germany. Cartwright, M. (2013, April 16). Whatever the case, the Persian horses played no significant role in the coming battle. Create your account. All while the Greek forces had lost only 200 men. The Battle of Marathon marked an important shift in historical momentum as the always quarrelsome, squabbling Greeks managed to stand together and defend against the powerhouse of the Persian Empire for the first time after years of fear. Athenians led a small group of Greek coalition forces to victory ThoughtCo. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Whatever the exact motives, in 491 BCE Darius sent envoys to call for the Greeks' submission to Persian rule. The hoplites' main advantage were their shields, with an outer bronze layer, and their heavier armor. The Greeks captured seven of the Persian ships, though the rest managed to launch and escape. Next in King Darius' sights were Athens and the rest of Greece. We want people all over the world to learn about history. Winter halted the land campaign, though, and at Salamis the Greek fleet manoeuvred the Persians into shallow waters and won a resounding victory. 30 Apr 2023. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. An ambitious conjecture seeks to equate the 192 Marathon But reconciling Greek historian Herodotuss accounts with a line in the Byzantine historical record known as the Suda gives a reasonable explanation as to why they might have done so. The Greeks then formed a phalanx by standing close together, typically in columns of eight, and using long spears to strike at their enemies from behind a wall of shields. As Simonedes' epitaph at the site of the fallen stated: 'Go tell the Spartans, you who read: We took their orders and here lie dead'. There was also the matter of the Persian cavalry, numbering around 1,000. 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. Just why Greece was coveted by Persia is unclear. 4 Why was the Battle of Marathon fought in Greece? The Clash At Marathon Shaped Greece, And The West Military historian Jim Lacey says the battle of Marathon, where the vastly outnumbered Greeks defeated the Persian army, had a profound impact on Western civilization, and opened an East-West political and cultural divide that shaped the ancient and modern worlds. Because they were in a religious ceremony and had to wait until the next full moon which was when it And though the Persians a civilization rich with its own intricacies and motivations have been vilified by the conflicts victors, had the Greeks fears been realized, the collective path of revolutionary ideas and the growth of societies would probably look nothing like they do today, and the modern world could be much different. With the Persians closing in on the Greek capitol, Athenian general Miltiades assumed command of the hastily assembled army. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. They also relied on more mixed tactics. THE GREEK GENERAL, MILTIADES, AFTER MUCH HESITATION, STARTED WITH MEN IN THE CENTER MOVING FORWARD AND HAD SOLDIERS COME AROUND THE SIDES ALSO TO ATTACK. The battle of Marathon: what happened? As Herodotus claims in his account of the battle in book VII of The Histories, the Oracle at Delphi had been proved right when she proclaimed that either Sparta or one of her kings must fall. AP World History - Ancient Greece: Tutoring Solution, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses. The Greeks, fielding the largest hoplite army ever seen, won the battle and finally ended Xerxes' ambitions in Greece. (2021, September 9). Whereas the Greek army consisted entirely of heavy infantry, the Persians consisted mainly of light infantry and archers, in addition to horsemen. The Greeks, who did not have cavalry or archers, could not safely cross the plains while the Persian cavalry were present. Thus the Athenians, initially, went to face the Persians alone. The Greeks learning these lessons when they did had a powerful impact on the course of world history. A fully accurate recounting of the events at Marathon can never truly be known. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Persia, with the largest empire in the world, was vastly superior in men and resources and now these would be fully utilised for a full-scale attack. The battle began with an initial stalemate that lasted for five days, after which the Greeks attacked. 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The Battle of Marathon - Facts, Summary, and Significance - S The Persian Empire in 500 BC. The defeat at Marathon marked the end of the first Persian invasion of Greece, and the Persian force retreated to Asia. This is Sparta: Fierce warriors of the ancient world - Craig Zimmer. 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. Pheidippides ran to Sparta, a distance of about 220 kilometers (over 135 miles), in only two days. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. Persian soldiers, on the other hand, were more lightly armored. Coming swiftly to battle, the strong Persian center held firm against the ruthless Athenians and their allies, but their weaker flanks collapsed under the force of the Greek advance and they were quickly left with no choice but to withdraw. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. After the Athenians impressive defeat of the Persians, Datis the general in charge of leading Darius army withdrew his forces from Grecian territory and returned to Persia. Ten years later the Persians returned and won a victory at Thermopylae before being defeated by the Greeks at Salamis. For the Greeks, this inactivity was largely due to a fear of being attacked by the Persian cavalry as they crossed the plain. Refusing to relent, the Athenians splashed into the sea after them, burning a few ships and managing to capture seven, bringing them to shore. What was the most important impact of the Battle of Marathon? 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. Figure 2: A possible position of the Greek and Persian armies in an initial stand-off at Marathon. Desperation can be a powerful motivator. Consequences. WebThe battle of Marathon was fought in September of 490 B.C., when the Persian king Darius I sent a force to subdue Athens after the Athenians had supported the Ionian Greeks during their unsuccessful rebellion against Persian rule in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Cavalry, usually operating on the flanks of the main battle, were used to mop up opposing infantry put in disarray after they had been subjected to repeated salvos from the archers. They gave us philosophy, democracy, language, art, and much more; which Great Renaissance thinkers used to dig Europe out of the Dark Ages and deliver it to modernity a reflection of just how advanced the Greeks were for their time. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE. In around 500 BCE, the Persian Empire looked poised to continue their western expansion and absorb tiny, disunited Greece into their fold. The mens last two Where was the Athenians buried after the Battle of Marathon? Finally, the Greek commander, Miltiades, elected to attack after receiving favorable omens. The stress of dealing with a revolt in Egypt further exacerbated his poor health, and by October, he was dead. In another feat of incredible strength and endurance, the main body of the Athenians reformed and marched back to Athens at top speed, arriving in time to dissuade the Persian army from landing and launching their planned attack on the city. 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. When the Greeks held their position, Xerxes once again sent envoys to offer the defenders a last chance to surrender without bloodshed if the Greeks would only lay down their arms. The Greco-Persian Wars Results & Significance | What Caused the Greco-Persian Wars? A force made primarily of Athenians attacked Sardis an old and significant metropolis of Asia Minor (most of what is modern-day Turkey) and one soldier, likely overcome with the ardor of mid-battle enthusiasm, accidentally started a fire in a small dwelling. In the wake of the Ionian Revolt (499 BC-494 BC), the emperor of the Persian Empire, Darius I, dispatched an army to Greece to punish those city-states that had aided the rebels. 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. The Spartans toured the battlefield at Marathon, and agreed that the Athenians had won a great victory. With no choice but to act, the Greeks took the initiative. 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. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Apr 2013. This may have been due to the Persian's tendency to place inferior troops on their flanks. On his return to Athens, Pheidippides delivered the terrible news that no imminent support could be expected from the Spartans. Wild in their fear, some of the Persians tried to escape via the nearby swamps, ignorant and unaware of the treacherous terrain, where they drowned. And many states, even including Persia, employed Greek hoplite mercenaries to do their fighting for them for many years after the Persian defeats at the hands of the Greeks. After a failed naval expedition in 492 BC, Darius sent a second army two years later. Herodotus writes that the Greeks ran the full distance to the Persian army. In 2005, outside of the normal competition, he decided to fully retrace the steps of Pheidippides and ran from Athens to Sparta and then back to Athens. 429 lessons. Web. This was, perhaps, to stretch his lines longer in order to avoid being outflanked by the more numerous Persians. And, showing up a little late only a few days after the Athenians victory 2,000 Spartan soldiers arrived, having marched immediately upon the conclusion of their festival and moving their entire army over the 220 kilometers in only three days. Herodotus of Halicarnassus. A glorious defeat maybe, but the fact remained that the way was now clear for Xerxes to push on into mainland Greece. Darius sent an army of around 25,000 or 30,000 soldiers to punish the Athenians and take control of Greece. Hickman, Kennedy. https://www.worldhistory.org/thermopylae/. On the sixth day, however, the Athenians inexplicably abandoned their plan of maintaining a defensive stance and attacked the Persians, a decision that seems foolhardy considering the enemy they faced. This event was later conflated with the soon-to-be victorious Athenians marching back to Athens at a quickened pace. The Greek's stronger armor and shields, as well as their long spears, helped them overcome the Persians superior numbers. 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. Greek soldiers of the time were known as hoplites. 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. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. Darius the Great Accomplishments: Lesson for Kids, Mycenae Civilization & Culture | Facts About Mycenaean Greece, Athens vs. Sparta | Life Differences Between Athens & Sparta. I feel like its a lifeline. This is why a full marathon race is 26.2 miles. Greek Phalanx Warfare Formation & Tactics | What is a Phalanx? This battle was sparked by Athenian involvement in the Ionian Revolt (499 - 493 BCE), which greatly angered the Persian king, Darius the Great. Perhaps at this point the Theban contingent may have surrendered (although this is disputed amongst scholars). Sprinting, shouting, furious and ready to attack, that fear was pushed aside, and it must have seemed insane to the Persians. Greek tactics proved superior to those of the Persians. WebFor all of its significance, the Battle of Marathon admittedly did little more than delay the encroaching invaders. on the seaside Grecian plain of Marathon. The battle of Thermopylae, and particularly the Spartans' role in it, soon acquired mythical status amongst the Greeks. Most of what we know comes to us from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who was writing of these events decades after they occurred. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. 3 What was the most important impact of the Battle of Marathon? Herodotus contradicts this legend and states that Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to seek aid before the battle. It was an attempt by a vengeful Persian king Darius the Great to expand his empire across the Aegean Sea. Athens and Sparta were able to galvanize a number of cities, previously petrified at the thought of a Persian attack, into defending their homeland. 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. The modern marathon race is named for this incorrect telling of events. Shortly afterward, the Persian center also crumbled and fled. However, an unscrupulous traitor was about to tip the balance in favour of the invaders. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. The Persian forces also included the Immortals, an elite force of 10,000 who were probably better protected with armour and armed with spears. He suggests that the summer heat of August may have pushed the runner In a phalanx formation, the hoplites would stand close together, usually in columns of eight. We care about our planet! Anticipating this, Militiades quickly returned the bulk of the army to the city. This experience provided him with something invaluable: a firm knowledge of Persian battle tactics. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you The two opposing armies were essentially representative of the two approaches to Classical warfare - Persian warfare favoured long-range assault using archers followed up with a cavalry charge, whilst the Greeks favoured heavily-armoured hoplites, arranged in a densely packed formation called the phalanx, with each man carrying a heavy round bronze shield and fighting at close quarters using spears and swords. They left their infantry to keep the Athenian army occupied at Marathon, but under cover of darkness theyd packed up and loaded their fast-moving cavalry back onto their ships. began his conquest by first sending envoys to attempt a diplomatic conquest of the northernmost of the Grecian kingdoms: Macedonia, the homeland of future Greek leader, Alexander the Great. As panic spread in the Persian ranks, their lines began to break and they fled back to their ships. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Battle of Marathon was a conflict between Athens and the Persian Empire in 490 B.C.E that stemmed from Athenians providing aid to rebels in Ionia who were fighting To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Having somewhere in the region of 80,000 troops at his disposal, the Persian king, who led the invasion in person, first waited four days in expectation that the Greeks would flee in panic. THEN THE GREEKS MARCHED BACK TO ATHENS TO DEFEND THE CITY AGAINST Moving south towards Greece, Mardonius' fleet was wrecked off Cape Athos during a massive storm. The Battle of Marathon still has influence on the world today, remembered in the worlds most popular international sporting event the Olympics. The Greek army inflicted a crushing defeat on the more numerous Persians, marking a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. The Battle of Marathon was fought between a Persian army and a mostly Athenian Greek army in 490 BCE during the first Greco-Persian War. That left his son Xerxes I to inherit the throne of Persia as well as Dariuss dream to conquer Greece and the preparations he had already made to do so. 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 About five days after first arriving at Marathon, the Greeks decided to attack, and Miltiades moved his army into position. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. WebThe battles of Marathon and Thermopylae are two of the most famous engagements of antiquity fought in Greece. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. 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. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. WebMarathon soon became an almost mythical event. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Seeing that the opportunity to strike the previously lightly-defended city had passed, the Persians withdrew back to Asia. It was a move that ultimately turned into a major tactical error; the Athenians, faced with the same life and death decision, knew that to follow Eretria would mean their death. Even so, it wouldnt be until 500 B.C. Darius' response to this diplomatic outrage was to launch a naval force of 600 ships and 25,000 men to attack the Cyclades and Euboea, leaving the Persians just one step away from the rest of Greece. He betrayed Darius when tensions rose with Greece, returning home to take a command in the Athenian army. As with most battles from this period, these numbers are suspect. What Was the Significance of the Battle of Marathon? Moving south, the Persians landed near Marathon, approximately 25 miles north of Athens. Mound (soros) in which the Athenian dead were buried after the Defeated, the Persians departed from the area and sailed south to attack Athens directly. The Greeks had no problem closing the distance and engaging the Persian army at close-range. The Persian defeat at Marathon halted the Persian Empire's western expansion, and ensured continued Greek 2. Last modified April 16, 2013. Hickman, Kennedy. Related Content Depots of equipment and supplies were laid, a canal dug at Chalkidike, and boat bridges built across the Hellespont to facilitate the movement of troops. - 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. Mary has a Master's Degree in History with 18 advanced hours in Government. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. What effect did the Battle of Marathon have? What were the consequences of the battle of Marathon? Arriving approximately 25 miles north of Athens, the Persians came ashore and were soon hemmed in by the Greeks on the Plain 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.
