Download Who Invented the Marathon

Who Invented the Marathon?
World History
Mr. Nolet
In 546 B.C., the Persian Empire began its conquest of several Greek city-states in Asia
Minor, Macedonia, and present-day Greece. But the battle at Marathon in 490 B.C.
became a major turning point in favor of the Greeks in what has become known as the
Persian Wars.
Many Greek city-states lived peacefully under Persian control until the ruler Darius
raised taxes on the Greeks around 500 B.C. The Greeks rebelled, and Darius sent his
army, which set up camp on the plain of Marathon near Athens, to put down the
rebellion.
The Athenians, vastly outnumbered, desperately needed the help of Sparta’s military to
defeat the Persians. Time was short, so an Athenian general sent Phidippides, a
professional runner, to ask the Spartans for help. Phidippides ran the mountainous and
rugged 140-mile course in about 36 hours. Sparta agreed to help but said they would not
take the field until the moon was full due to religious laws. This would leave the
Athenians alone to fight the Persian Army. Phidippides ran another 140 miles back to
Athens to report the disappointing news. Immediately, the small Athenian Army,
including Phidippides, marched to the plains of Marathon to prepare for battle.
The Athenian Army was outnumbered 4 to 1, but they launched a surprise attack. By
day’s end, 6,400 Persian bodies lay dead on the field while only 192 Athenians had been
killed. The surviving Persians fled to sea and headed south to Athens where they hoped to
attack the city before the Greek Army could re-assemble there.
According to legend, Phidippides was again called upon to run to Athens, 26 miles away,
to carry the news of the victory and warn Athens of the approaching Persian forces.
Despite his fatigue after his recent run to Sparta and back and having fought all morning
in heavy armor, Phidippides rose to the challenge. Pushing
himself past normal limits of human endurance, he reached
Athens in perhaps 3 hours, delivered his message, and then
died shortly thereafter from exhaustion. Sparta and the other
Greek city-states eventually came to the aid of Athens and
turned back the Persians.
The Greeks would not win the Persian Wars until 479 B.C.,
but the battle at Marathon gave them the confidence and
courage to persevere.
1. Why did the Greeks rebel against their Persian rulers?
2. Explain why you believe this story is true or simply a
myth.
3. On the back, draw a line from Athens to Sparta.
Map of Ancient Greece