The Battle of Marathon: How Athens Beat the Persian Empire

In 490 BC, a Persian army landed at Marathon, and a young Athenian democracy had to face it with about ten thousand soldiers and no Spartan help. This is the full story of the Battle of Marathon: the fall of Eretria, the split vote among the Athenian generals, the risky battle plan that trapped the Persian center, and what the historical sources do and don’t tell us about the famous run. You’ll also hear why the story of the runner from Marathon to Athens may not be what you were taught, and why the Persian side of this story is so hard to find. Chapters: 0:00 The Run to Sparta 0:49 Why Persia Targeted Athens 2:10 Eretria Falls, Persia Lands at Marathon 4:22 The Split Vote and the Standoff 5:35 Miltiades' Risky Battle Plan 6:20 Trapped on Three Sides 7:30 Persia Retreats, Sparta Arrives Too Late 8:06 The Myth of the Marathon Run and What Really Changed Ancient Lore is a history documentary channel exploring ancient civilizations, wars, rulers, and the human decisions that shaped the ancient world. New videos regularly. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. Sources and further reading: Herodotus, Histories, Book 6; Plutarch, Life of Aristides; the Suda. #BattleOfMarathon #AncientGreece #AncientHistory #Persia #History