Marathon, the Battle that

Changed History

By Dalton Erskin

The Persians Kick an Ant Hill

The Greeks had already been tormented by the Persian rule, but not the Athenians.

In the September of 490BC a Persian armada

of 600 ships set sail for Athens with 20,000 soldiers and cavalry.

The Persians Kick an Ant Hill

When the Athenians learned of the Persian armada they sent for help from Sparta. But the help would never come.

The Persians Kick an Ant Hill

When they could wait no longer for help from Sparta the Athenians decided to send 9,000 hoplites to battle the Persian invaders.

The Persians Kick an Ant Hill

The Persian and Athenian armies met 26 miles north of Athens on the plain of marathon and prepared to face off.

The Battle Begins

The generals were now split on whether to wait for the Spartan reinforcements.

The Battle Begins

The Persians thought they were crazy and prepared to receive the Greeks.

The Battle Begins

Soon the hoplites were upon the Persian line.

The Battle Begins

While the flanks of the Greeks were advancing, the center gave way and the Persians advanced toward the fleeing Greeks.

The Battle Begins

While the flanks of the Greeks were advancing, the center gave way and the Persians advanced toward the fleeing Greeks.

The Battle Begins

While the Greeks were advancing on the retreating Persians, some of them made it to the boats and set sail.

The Race for Athens

The Greeks then made a forced march all the way back to Athens.

The Race for Athens

According to legend the word of the victory at Marathon was carried to Athens by a runner.

The Race for Athens

But unfortunately the win was in vain.

The Race for Athens

The Greeks one the battle but the war was far from over.

The Outcome

The men of the battle were legends.

The Outcome

Victories at Salamis and Marathon established Athens as an empire.

The Outcome

A man named Themistocles later urged for defense.

The Outcome

Though not successful on a large scale picture, the battle was a welcome victory.

The Outcome

Fosten, Jason K. "Battle of Marathon: Greeks Versus the Persians." History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online Battle of Marathon Greeks Versus the Persians Comments. Military History, Feb. 2007. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.< http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-marathon-greeks-versus-the-persians.htm

Green, Peter. Ancient Greece; an Illustrated History. New York: Viking, 1973. Print.

Grosvenor, Melville Bell. Greece and Rome: Builders of Our World. [Washington]: National Geographic Society, 1968. Print.

Lacey, Jim. "Marathon attack on the run: Persia's mighty army proved no match for the fired-up Athenian veterans in their epic close-quarters 490 BC battle." Military History May 2011: 60+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA251534651&v=2.1&u=sdln_shs&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w

Works Cited