Historical Background
To understand the Battle of Marathon, it is essential to examine the broader context in which it took place. The Persian Empire, under the leadership of King Darius I, had rapidly expanded its territory, stretching from modern-day Iran across the Middle East, and even into parts of Europe. Darius sought to consolidate his control over Greece and bring the rebellious Greek city-states under Persian domination. The Greeks had long resisted Persian influence, and by the early 5th century BCE, tensions had escalated.
The Persian Empire's initial foray into Greece began in 492 BCE with a failed expedition led by Darius' general Mardonius. Nevertheless, the Persians persisted in their efforts, launching a second, more significant invasion in 490 BCE, this time targeting the city-state of Athens.
The Athenians, meanwhile, had managed to forge an alliance with other Greek city-states, most notably Sparta, in an effort to defend their independence. The Persian invasion presented a dire threat to their sovereignty and to the broader Greek world. Athens, however, was not prepared to face the full force of the Persian army in open battle.
The Persian Army
The Persian army that marched towards Greece was formidable and vast by the standards of the time. It was estimated to have numbered around 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers, including infantry, cavalry, and archers. The Persian forces had a reputation for being highly disciplined and effective in battle, with their archers and cavalry being particularly formidable.
The Greeks, on the other hand, were vastly outnumbered. The Athenian army, led by the general Miltiades, consisted of around 10,000 hoplites, heavily armed infantry soldiers. The hoplite formation was a key element of Greek military strategy, with soldiers fighting in close-knit units known as phalanxes. While the Athenians were well-trained and motivated, they lacked the size and resources of the Persian force. shutdown123