Latest / Ancient Greece: Philosophy, Democracy, and Endless War — Fexingo History
The Battle of Marathon: Athens Defies Persia
In 490 BCE, a small Athenian army marched to the plain of Marathon to face the might of the Persian Empire. This episode unpacks the battle that became a cornerstone of Athenian identity: how Miltiades convinced the generals to attack, why the hoplite phalanx proved decisive against Persian archers, and what the famous marathon run really signified. We explore the strategic blunders of the Persian commanders Datis and Artaphernes, the role of the polemarch Callimachus, and the political fallout that pushed Athens toward naval expansion. Along the way, we separate myth from history—did a…
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