The Battle of Marathon

The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC brought the first Greco-Persian War to a close and put a stop to the Persian king Darius I‘s attempt to extend his hegemony to the Aegean Sea and mainland Greece. Thanks to the courage and fighting skills of the Greek hoplites, who risked their lives to defend their land and maintain their independence, the Persian army was pushed back to Asia Minor. This decisive Greek victory is one of the most celebrated feats in ancient history. In just 50 minutes, you will learn about the events leading up to the Battle of Marathon, including the expansion of the Persian Empire and the Ionian Revolt, and understand how the Greek army was able to drive back the invading forces.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough evaluation of the strategies of the Greek and Persian armies and a discussion of the main events of the battle, including the legendary 40-kilometer journey by a Greek messenger, which inspired the famous sporting event.  It also features biographies of the key commanders and leaders, a valuable introduction to the social and political context and an evaluation of the battle’s consequences, including the founding of the Delian League and the triumph of Athenian democracy, giving you all the essential information about this celebrated event.

About the Battle of Marathon

The Battle of Marathon took place during the Greco-Persian Wars in the 5^th century BC, and marked a high point in the tensions between the Persian Empire and some of the Greek cities. The ambitious Persian king Darius I wanted to extend his territory into mainland Greece, but the Greeks were equally determined to defend their independence. The subsequent Greek victory was used extensively in their propaganda, and came to assume mythical proportions.

This clear and accessible 45-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the Battle of Marathon
• Political and social context
  • Expansion of the Persian Empire
  • The Ionian Revolt
  • The Aegean strategy of Darius I
• Commanders and leaders
  • Miltiades, Athenian general
  • Callimachus of Aphidna, Athenian polemarch
  • Datis the Mede, Persian admiral
  • Artaphernes, Perian general
• Analysis of the battle
  • Choosing Marathon
  • Athens: a military democracy
  • The forces present
  • The Greek advantage in weaponry and the lack of Persian horsemen
  • The strategy
  • The development of the battle
  • A legendary race
• Impact of the Battle of Marathon
  • The victory of the Athenian democracy over tyranny
  • The founding of the Delian League
• Summary