Battle Analysis of Marathon: Greeks vs. Persians - Essay Example

The conflict between the Persian and the Greek empires is rooted in the Ionian revolts and the historical developments before that. With the fall of the Mycenaean Empire, some of the Greek tribes particularly the Ionians settled in Asia Minor, where according to historians they constructed and established a cultural collaboration of 12 cities. Later by the middle of 6th century BC, the Persians under Prince Cyrus overthrew the Median rulers in the Ionian cities and the cities were brought under the Persian rule.

However, the Persians found out that the Ionians were very difficult to rule and always faced internal revolts and uprisings. During the start of 5th century BC (499 – 493 BC), a series of uprisings known as the Ionian revolt took place. The natives were also aided by various Greek cities of the West particularly Athens and Eretria. The Persian army crushed the revolts and all of Asia Minor was brought under the stronghold of the Persians, however, the Persians did not stop there because their king Darius has concluded that the Greeks posed a huge threat to the Persian Empire, and thus, decided to uproot this threat for good.

The battle of Marathon was the start of a long series of Wars between the Persian and Greek Empires. . potential of hoplite phalanx whose extensive use took place for the first time in this battle and was proved to be very effective against heavy infantry and light cavalry as well (Rice 32). The Players in the Battle The Athenians were led by the ten strategoi (generals) which were selected by the ten tribes of Athens. The most notable of all the generals was Miltiades IV who was the son of a renowned Olympic chariot-racer.

He also ruled the Greek colonies on Thracian Chersonese and was involved in a number of military expeditions in the region, siding with different parties on different occasions. The war tactics for the Greeks in the battle of Marathon were devised primarily by Miltiades and he was the one who convinced Callimachus to attack the Persian when the ten strategoi were evenly divided over the decision and the decision rested with Callimachus, the supreme leader in the battle. Miltiades also convinced the generals to employ a novel strategy in the war and placed the hoplites in an unconventional position that ultimately played a major role in the victory (Schless 26).

Callimachus was the pole march, the supreme leader in the battle of Marathon and played a decisive role in finalizing the strategy of the Greek soldiers in the battle, however, his decision was motivated by the convincing efforts of Miltiades. The right wing of the Greek army under the command of Callimachus played a very crucial role in turning the outcome of the battle in their favor by attacking the heavy infantry and forcing them to flee. The command of the left wing was given to the Plataeans commander Arimnestos who was among the greatest Greek generals of that time.

Thermistocles and Aristides who were among the prominent politicians and warriors of Athens were also given the command of