Marathon 490BC - created from Mind Map

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Persian Objectives

The reorganisation of the crushed Asiatic Greeks

The consolidation of their control over the northern Aegean

Punishment of non-Asiatic Greek cities that had attacked Sardis

Numbers

Sources suggest 90,000 to 600,000 Persian men

9,000 Athenian hoplites (perhaps some freed slaves) and 600 Plataeans (Athenian ally)

More likely to have been 25,000; 1,000 cavalry and 600 ships

Individuals

Greek

Persian

Kallimachos

Miltiades

Arimnestos

Polemarch

Led the army and took extreme right on battlefield

Role minimized by Herodotus?

honour

Contrary to Herodotus Kallimachos might have retained command over the board of strategoi

Did Herodotus emphasize the role of Miltiades and minimize the role of Kallimachos?

Born 550s; son of Kimon; early opponents of Peisistratid tyranny;

Known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon; as well as his rather tragic downfall afterwards

His son Cimon was a major Athenian figure of the 470s and 460s BC

Commanded the Plataean contingent

Herodotus' source?

Datis

Atraphernes the Younger

Hippias

Median aristocrat

Involved in Persian counter-offensive against Ionians 494

Son of the Satrap of Lydia

Dareios’ nephew

Exiled tyrant of Athens and military adviser

Perhaps expected to have a warm welcome from eastern attika, who had supported his father’s tyranny

Importance

Burial site

Arrival of Sparta

Defeat of Persia

Praised Athens

Set back to Persian expansion

Significance

Greeks

Persians

Moral victory

Persians were beatable

False sense of security

victory for Democracy

Delian League

Gods

Built confidence

underestimated the future danger

continued to quarrel and made few plans for defence

first real check to expansion in the West

Dareios was more determined to take revenge

Realised their mistakes

Preparations for further invasions

They learnt much about the Greeks

greater forces were needed

Outbreak

Herodotus (6.94-96) suggests:

Servant’s prompting: “Remember Athens”

Pisistratidae influence

Refusal of 'Earth and Water'

Persians had previously failed to take Naxos

Why Marathon?

Suggested by Hippias

Nearest suitable landing site to Eretria

Provide ample water and pasturage for cavalry

Broad enough for the deployment of whole army

Possibly pro-Hippias

Marathon 490BC