Millennium after millennium, the world has always born witness to conflict. While war always tends to be bloody, no conflict has managed to match the historical significance of the battle of marathon. The 490 BC conflict serves as a benchmark for other conflicts and the impact of Greek civilization.
It began with an ambitious Persian king called Darius I. As ruler, his ultimate goal was to invade Greece and place it under Persian control. Unbeknown to him, this was not going to be an easy affair as the Greeks were renowned for their military discipline and their rock solid battle formation. To wage war against the people of Athens, the Persian army relied on the command of Artaphernes and Datis.
The primary motivation for the invasion was the need for a response by the Persians to the Ionian revolt. During this revolt, the Greek states of Athens and Eretria had combined forces to help drive the Persians out of Ionia. Though successful in capturing Sardis, the allied Greek forces had to retreat as they were taking heavy casualties. The eventual result was a complete crushing of the Ionian revolt by the Persians. Maddened by the attempt by the Greeks, King Darius I swore to retaliate by burning Athens and Eretria to the ground.
During the Marathon battle, the two largest city states in Greece were Athens and Sparta. In 490 BC, King Darius I ordered his two naval commanders, Datis and Artaphernes, to lead a force across the Aegean Sea into Greece. Upon landing, their first task was to take over Cyclades.
Next, the besieged area would serve as an attacking base against the citizens of Athens and Eretria. During midsummer, after taking Euboea, the Persians began to attack Eretria. Once they took the city, the army departed for Attica while fixating its eyes on Marathon.
Noting the dangerous closeness of the enemy, the Athenians joined forces with a contingent from Plataea. Thereafter, they marched onward to Marathon. Upon reaching the city, they proceeded to block the two exit routes around it.
Before their march, they had dispatched a message to the Spartans asking for support. However, their request was denied as the Spartans were concurrently celebrating a religious festival. According to the renowned historian Herodotus, the person dispatching the message from Athens ran more than 140 miles to Sparta, arriving the day after. His feat achieved legendary status, with the inspiration for the modern race credited to him.
The Athenians made a smart move by choosing a mountainous and marshy area for the main conflict. This inherently meant the invading Persian army could not link up with its Calvary. By reinforcing its flanks, the Athenian army was able to draw the enemy to its center.
The surrounding force eventually crushed the enemy in no time. Surviving factions then took off to their ships. One notable observation is that the Greeks got their victory without Spartan assistance, albeit using tactful thinking.
It began with an ambitious Persian king called Darius I. As ruler, his ultimate goal was to invade Greece and place it under Persian control. Unbeknown to him, this was not going to be an easy affair as the Greeks were renowned for their military discipline and their rock solid battle formation. To wage war against the people of Athens, the Persian army relied on the command of Artaphernes and Datis.
The primary motivation for the invasion was the need for a response by the Persians to the Ionian revolt. During this revolt, the Greek states of Athens and Eretria had combined forces to help drive the Persians out of Ionia. Though successful in capturing Sardis, the allied Greek forces had to retreat as they were taking heavy casualties. The eventual result was a complete crushing of the Ionian revolt by the Persians. Maddened by the attempt by the Greeks, King Darius I swore to retaliate by burning Athens and Eretria to the ground.
During the Marathon battle, the two largest city states in Greece were Athens and Sparta. In 490 BC, King Darius I ordered his two naval commanders, Datis and Artaphernes, to lead a force across the Aegean Sea into Greece. Upon landing, their first task was to take over Cyclades.
Next, the besieged area would serve as an attacking base against the citizens of Athens and Eretria. During midsummer, after taking Euboea, the Persians began to attack Eretria. Once they took the city, the army departed for Attica while fixating its eyes on Marathon.
Noting the dangerous closeness of the enemy, the Athenians joined forces with a contingent from Plataea. Thereafter, they marched onward to Marathon. Upon reaching the city, they proceeded to block the two exit routes around it.
Before their march, they had dispatched a message to the Spartans asking for support. However, their request was denied as the Spartans were concurrently celebrating a religious festival. According to the renowned historian Herodotus, the person dispatching the message from Athens ran more than 140 miles to Sparta, arriving the day after. His feat achieved legendary status, with the inspiration for the modern race credited to him.
The Athenians made a smart move by choosing a mountainous and marshy area for the main conflict. This inherently meant the invading Persian army could not link up with its Calvary. By reinforcing its flanks, the Athenian army was able to draw the enemy to its center.
The surrounding force eventually crushed the enemy in no time. Surviving factions then took off to their ships. One notable observation is that the Greeks got their victory without Spartan assistance, albeit using tactful thinking.
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The Battle of Marathon was an epic war that took place in ancient Persia. To read more, visit this informative website at http://ancientgreecepersia.com/greek-persian-wars.html.
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