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[[File: Miltiades_Munich.jpg|300px210px|thumbnail|left|Bust of the Athenian General, Miltiades]]

__NOTOC__Few battles in the ancient world had as much impact on history as the Battle of Marathon. The battle has provided a fodder for numerous books, documentaries, and movies, which often portray the event as one of the an important battles battle in the existential struggle between European freedom and Oriental despotism. The reality of the Battle of Marathon marathons reality is much less hyperbolic and much more complex than the popular media often depicts, although it was just as important. The Battle of Marathon was a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BC) as it put a check on the mighty Achaemenid Persian military juggernaut that was threatening to inundate all of Greece and put the Greek people under their tyranny. The “Great King” Darius I (ruled 522-486 BC) of the Achaemenid Empire ruthlessly crushed the Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC) of the Greek-Anatolian city-states, which proved to be the first round of the Greco-Persian Wars and the event that placed the what was at the time the not so important city-state of Athens directly in the path of Persian aggression. The Athenians supported their Greek-Ionian cousins in the revolt, thereby making them the eternal enemies of Persians and causing Darius I to send a large amphibious invasion force to Athens in 490 BC. Despite being outnumbered, the Athenians pushed back the Persian tide on an inconsequential plain near a small town known as Marathon.

==Who won the Battle of Marathon?==The Athenians were clearly underdogs at the Battle of Marathon, but achieved was a convincing tactical and moral victory for a number of reasons that were both tangible and intangible. Among turning point in the tangible reasons for the Athenian victory were the highGreco-Persian Wars (499-quality of their commanders, especially Miltiades, who knew 449 BC). It put a check on the capabilities and limitations mighty Achaemenid Persian military juggernaut that was threatening to inundate all of their force Greece and what they could expect from put the PersiansGreek people under their tyranny. The Athenian commanders were familiar with “Great King” Darius I (ruled 522-486 BC) of the terrain and used it accordingly, as opposed to Achaemenid Empire ruthlessly crushed the myopic Persian commanders who relied almost solely on their numbers. Also, Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC) of the average Greek warrior, known as <i>hoplites</i>, were better equipped than their Persians counterparts-Anatolian city-states, which proved to be vital in the latter stages first round of the battle. Along with the tangible Greco-Persian Wars and strategic factors that propelled the Athenians to victory were several intangibles that factored in their favor including: their love of freedom and rights as citizens event that they did not want to lose; placed the fear of what was at the time the Persians would do to their not so important city and families -state of they were to lose Athens directly in the battle; and shame over not doing more to help path of Persian aggression. The Athenians supported their Greek-Ionian Greek cousins in their time the revolt, thereby making them the eternal enemies of needPersians and causing Darius I to send a large amphibious invasion force to Athens in 490 BC. Despite being outnumbered, the Athenians pushed back the Persian tide on an inconsequential plain near a small town known as Marathon.

===The Ionian RevoltWhat advantages did the Athenians have at the Battle of Marathon?==[[File: Darius.jpg|300px|thumbnail|right|Relief The Athenians were clearly underdogs at the Battle of Darius I from Persepolis]]The event that placed Athens, Marathon but achieved a convincing tactical and later Sparta moral victory for several tangible and most of Greece, in intangible reasons. Among the cross-hairs of tangible reasons for the Persians Athenian victory was their involvement in the Ionian Revolt. The Greek city-states in the coastal region of the modern nationcommanders' high-state of Turkeyquality, which was known in ancient times as “Ioniaespecially Miltiades,” were firmly under who knew the control capabilities and limitations of their force and what they could expect from the Achaemenid Persians at . The Athenian commanders were familiar with the beginning terrain and used it accordingly, instead of the fifth century BC as a “satrapy” or province. Ionia was listed as an Achaemenid satrapy in myopic Persian inscriptions from Persia to Egypt and was written about by the fifth century BC Greek historian Herodotus, commanders who noted that the province was quite lucrative as it supplied a yearly tribute of 400 talents of silver. <ref> Herodotus. <i> The Histories.</i> Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. (London: Penguin Books, 2003), Book III, 90</ref> The mainland Greeks continued to trade with relied almost solely on their Ionian cousins and maintained reasonable diplomatic relations with the Persians until events unfolded in Ionia in 499 BC that set them against each other permanentlynumbers.

Things moved quickly The average Greek warrior, known as <i>hoplites</i>, was better equipped than their Persian counterparts, which proved vital in Ionia after Histiaeus – who was a Greek appointed by the Persians battle's later stages. Along with the tangible and strategic factors that propelled the Athenians to rule the Ionian city victory were several intangibles that factored in their favor, including their love of Miletus freedom and rights as a puppet tyrant – left citizens that they did not want to lose; the city on business and was temporarily replaced by a man named Aristagoras. The new tyrant looked across fear of what the Aegean Sea Persians would do to Athens as inspiration as that their city had recently overthrown its tyranny and replaced it with democracy—Aristagoras endeavored families if they were to do lose the same in Miletus. Soon, news spread throughout Ionia battle; and all the shame over not doing more to help their Ionian Greek cities cousins in Anatolia what Aristagoras had done and so many followed suit and expelled their tyrants. The actions were considered rebellion by Darius I who soon sent a large force to quell the growing disturbance. <ref> Forrest, George. “Greece: The History of the Archaic Period.” In <i>The Oxford History time of Greece and the Hellenistic World.</i> Edited by John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray. (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2001), pneed. 37</ref>

Aristagoras knew that == What was the Ionian Greeks could not defeat the Achaemenid Empire alone, so he traveled to Greece to appeal to the two most powerful city-states, Sparta and AthensRevolt? ==[[File: Darius. He incorrectly gauged the austere Spartans desire for riches, who rebuffed him by stating that the time away jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|Relief of Darius I from their city would be too long. <ref> Herodotus, Book V, 50</ref> Aristagoras then went to Athens where he changed his pitch by appealing to the fraternal bond between Athens and Miletus as it was Athenians who founded Miletus. The plea was successful, somewhat, as the Athenians agreed to send twenty triremes, although that was far below the number Aristagoras had desired. <ref> Herodotus, Book V, 97</ref> Persepolis]]

The results event that placed Athens, and later Sparta and most of Greece, in the Persians' cross-hairs was their involvement in the Ionian Revolt proved to be disastrous for Aristagoras and the Greeks. After sacking The Greek city-states in the coastal region of Turkey's modern nation-state, which was known in ancient Lydian city of Sardistimes as “Ionia, the Greeks ” were repulsed by firmly under the superior Persian force. Aristagoras fled control of the region and died in exile while the surviving Athenians sailed back to Greece, probably thinking they had heard Achaemenid Persians at the last beginning of the Persiansfifth century BC as a “satrapy” or province. But according Ionia was listed as an Achaemenid satrapy in Persian inscriptions from Persia to Egypt. It was written about by the fifth century BC Greek historian Herodotus, Darius I reportedly told his advisors: “Grant, O God, who noted that I may punish the Atheniansprovince was quite lucrative. It supplied a yearly tribute of 400 talents of silver.” <ref> Herodotus. <i> The Histories.</i> Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. (London: Penguin Books, 2003), Book VIII, 10590</ref> After exacting punitive atrocities on the The mainland Greeks continued to trade with their Ionian Greeks, Darius I assembled cousins and maintained reasonable diplomatic relations with the largest fleet Persians until events unfolded in Ionia in 499 BC that world had ever seen to invade Greeceset them against each other permanently.

===The Persian Fleet Sails===The initial Persian fleet Things moved quickly in Ionia after Histiaeus – a Greek appointed by the Persians to rule the Ionian city of Miletus as a puppet tyrant – left the city on business and was led temporarily replaced by a commander man named Mardonius, but most of Aristagoras. The new tyrant looked across the fleet was destroyed Aegean Sea to Athens as inspiration. That city had recently overthrown its tyranny and replaced it tried with democracy—Aristagoras endeavored to sail along do the shoreline of the Aegean Seasame in Miletus. <ref> HerodotusSoon, Book VInews spread throughout Ionia, 44</ref> Although thousands of men and hundreds of ships were lost at sea, all the Achaemenid Empire Greek cities in Anatolia what Aristagoras had nearly unlimited resources availabledone, and so many followed suit and expelled their tyrants. The actions were considered a rebellion by Darius I appointed another commander named Datis , who soon sent a large force to lead another fleet to Greecequell the growing disturbance. Datis’ specific orders were to “reduce Athens and Eretria to slavery”<ref> HerodotusForrest, Book VI, 94</ref> for their role in the Ionian RevoltGeorge. Although Eretria was a much smaller city-state, the neighbor “Greece: The History of Athens also sent triremes to support the Ionian Greeks so they also incurred the wrath of Darius IArchaic Period. Instead ” In <i>The Oxford History of following Greece and the Aegean coastline as Mardonius so tragically didHellenistic World.</i> Edited by John Boardman, Datis decided to take the fleet straight across the AegeanJasper Griffin, hopping the many Cyclades islands in the processand Oswyn Murray. Once the Persian fleet arrived in Greece(Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2001), Datis led it straight to Eretria to teach them a less and send a sign to the Atheniansp. Herodotus wrote:37</ref>

“The Persians enteredAristagoras knew that the Ionian Greeks could not defeat the Achaemenid Empire alone, so he traveled to Greece to appeal to the two most powerful city-states, Sparta and stripped Athens. He incorrectly gauged the temples bare and burnt them in revenge austere Spartans' desire for riches, who rebuffed him by stating that the burnt temples of Sardistime away from their city would be too long. <ref> Herodotus, Book V, 50</ref> Aristagoras then went to Athens, where he changed his pitch by appealing to the fraternal bond between Athens andMiletus as it was Athenians who founded Miletus. The plea was successful, somewhat, in accordance with Darius’ ordersas the Athenians agreed to send twenty triremes, carried off all although that was far below the inhabitants as slavesnumber Aristagoras had desired. <ref> Herodotus, Book VIV, 10197</ref>

Once The results of the Athenians learned of Ionian Revolt proved to be disastrous for Aristagoras and the Greeks. After sacking the fate ancient Lydian city of EretriaSardis, the fear in Greeks were repulsed by the city must have been palpablesuperior Persian force. The Athenians knew that Aristagoras fled the Persian army was headed region and died in their direction next and that there was little exile while the surviving Athenians sailed back to no deal that could be madeGreece, probably thinking they had heard the Persians' last. Although But according to Herodotus gives no numbers on the size of the Persian army, all modern scholars agree Darius I reportedly told his advisors: “Grant, O God, that it was larger than anything I may punish the Athenians could field. A high estimate is around 90,000, although that number includes sailors, <ref> Hammond, N. G. L. “The Campaign and Battle of Marathon.” <i>Journal of Hellenic Studies.</i> 88 (1968) p. 33</ref> while a low estimate puts that number at 12Herodotus,000 to 15Book V,000 fighting men. <ref> Dpemges, Norman A. “The Campaign and Battle of Marathon.” <i>Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte.</i> 47 (1998) p. 6105</ref> Whichever number is true After exacting punitive atrocities on the Ionian Greeks, Darius I assembled the Athenians were outnumbered and facing an existential threat. But the fear largest fleet that the Athenians felt after the destruction Eretria may have actually worked world had ever seen to their advantage during the battle because they knew that if they did not win then they would die and their families would be sold into slaveryinvade Greece.

===The Battle=Persian Fleet Sails ==[[File: Battle_of_Marathon.png|300px|thumbnail|left|Map Depicting the Order of Battle at Marathon: The Greeks are Blue and the Persians are Red]]The key to any battlefield victory is usually the result of superb planning. The Greek commanders, initial Persian fleet was led by Miltiadesa commander named Mardonius, showed their acumen by properly mobilizing their troops, choosing but most of the place and time fleet was destroyed as it tried to engage sail along the Persians, and by showing creativity with their strategies in shoreline of the face of overwhelming numbersAegean Sea. To counteract the Persian numbers<ref> Herodotus, Book VI, the Athenians knew that they had to muster every man they could to their cause so they started by requesting help from their allies the Spartans. 44</ref> Although Sparta thousands of men and Athens hundreds of ships were rivals throughout most of Hellenic historylost at sea, they were allied against the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars. Miltiades knew that the martial minded Spartans could give them the edge against the Persians Achaemenid Empire had nearly unlimited resources available, so he sent a messenger Darius I appointed another commander named Datis to lead another fleet to request their assistanceGreece. The Battle of Marathon took place on September 11, which coincided with an important Spartan religious festival dedicated Datis’ specific orders were to Apollo Karenios, so the Athenians would have “reduce Athens and Eretria to find help elsewhere. slavery”<ref> ChristianHerodotus, Dirk LundBook VI, Thomas Heine Nielsen, and Adam Schwartz. “Herodotos and <i>Hemerodromoi94</iref>: Pheidippides’ Run from Athens to Sparta for their role in 490 BC from Historical and Physiological Perspectivesthe Ionian Revolt.” <i>Hermes.</i> 137 (2009) p. 161</ref>

Miltiades did not waste time waiting for the SpartansAlthough Eretria was a much smaller city-state, though. He mobilized the entire Athenian citizenry so that all males between the ages neighbor of eighteen and forty-two would either have Athens also sent triremes to fight support the arriving Persians or stand guard at Ionian Greeks, so they also incurred the city to await a potential siegewrath of Darius I. Athens had no professional, standing army in Instead of following the modern senseAegean coastline as Mardonius so tragically did, but its men comprised a sort of “home guard” who were able Datis decided to fight on short notice. Despite not being a formal armytake the fleet straight across the Aegean, hopping the Athenians were well-equipped and experienced many Cyclades islands in the arts of warprocess. <ref> Sage, Michael M. <i>Warfare Once the Persian fleet arrived in Ancient Greece: A Sourcebook, Datis led it straight to Eretria to teach them a less and send a sign to the Athenians.</i> ( LondonHerodotus wrote: Routledge, 1996), p. 38</ref>

Once the men of Athens were mobilized“The Persians entered, it was up to Miltiades and stripped the other generals to decide how they would engage the Persians. Some Athenians believed that it was best to wait temples bare and burnt them in revenge for the Persians burnt temples of Sardis, and to fight them in a siege, but Miltiades knew that such a venture was doomed to failure after seeing what happened to Eretria. Miltiades argued that they needed to meet following Darius’ orders, carried off all the Persians inhabitants as soon as they landed their ships on ground that could favor their numerical inferiority. The Athenians chose the plain near a town named Marathon to engage the Persians because that was near where the Persians would come to shore and it was sacred to the Greek demi-god Herculesslaves. " <ref>Herodotus, Book VI, 108101</ref> The Athenians were able to muster about 10,000 hoplites and were augmented by 1,000 men from their Greek allies in Plataea. Once the Athenians picked the location, they did not directly engage the Persians, who were camped near the shore, but gradually advanced over the course of a few days, felling trees as they went. Once they arrived at would be the battlefield they were protected in their rear and flanks by rugged hills, which made the Persian cavalry useless and pinned them in a bottleneck. <ref> Hammond, pgs. 34-39</ref> With the odds somewhat more favorable, Miltiades was ready to lead his men into battle.

Miltiades Once the Athenians learned of the fate of Eretria, the fear in the city must have been palpable. The Athenians knew that the Persian army was headed in their direction next initiated two battlefield strategies and that proved there was little to no deal that could be fatal for the Persiansmade. He focused his best troops Although Herodotus gives no numbers on the wings of the Greek line instead of the centerPersian army's size, which all modern scholars agree that it was where larger than anything the best troops traditionally fought in battles during this eraAthenians could field. Once his troops were lined upAlthough that number includes sailors, he ordered a nearly one mile charge by charge by his men to engage the Persian linehigh estimate is around 90,000, <ref> Hammond, N. G. L. “The Campaign and Battle of Marathon.” <i>Journal of Hellenic Studies.</i> 88 (1968) p. Although one would think 33</ref> while a low estimate puts that running number at 12,000 to a battle would wind the troops and therefore be counterproductive15, in this case it had the result of rendering the Persian archery and cavalry useless000 fighting men. <ref>HammondDpemges, Norman A. “The Campaign and Battle of Marathon.” <i>Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte.</i> 47 (1998) p. 406</ref> When Whichever number is true, the two armies engaged, Athenians were outnumbered and facing an existential threat. But the Greek center gave way, but fear that was part the Athenians felt after the destruction of Miltiades’ ultimate strategy as Herodotus noted:Eretria may have actually worked to their advantage during the battle because they knew that they would die if they did not win. Their families would be sold into slavery.

“The Athenians on one wing and the Plataeans on the other were both victorious. Having got the upper hand, they left the defeated enemy to make their escape, and them drawing the two wings together into a single unit, they turned their attention to the Persians who had broken through in the centre. Here again they were triumphant, chasing the routed enemy, and cutting them down until they came to the sea.” <ref> Herodotus, Book VI, 113<dh-ad/ref>

== How did the Athenians defeat the Persians at the Battle of Marathon? ==[[File: Battle_of_Marathon.png|250px|thumbnail|left|Map Depicting the Order of Battle at Marathon: The Greeks are Blue and the Persians are Red]] The key to any battlefield victory is usually the result of superb planning. The Greek commanders, led by Miltiades, showed their acumen by properly mobilizing their troops, choosing the place and time to engage the Persians, and by showing creativity with their strategies in the face of overwhelming numbers. To counteract the Persian numbers, the Athenians knew that they had to muster every man they could to their cause, so they started by requesting help from their allies, the Spartans. Although Sparta and Athens were rivals throughout most of Hellenic history, they were allied against the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars.  Miltiades knew that the martial-minded Spartans could give them the edge against the Persians, so he sent a messenger to request their assistance. The Battle of Marathon took place on September 11, which coincided with an important Spartan religious festival dedicated to Apollo Karenios, so the Athenians would have to find help elsewhere. <ref> Christian, Dirk Lund, Thomas Heine Nielsen, and Adam Schwartz. “Herodotos and <i>Hemerodromoi</i>: Pheidippides’ Run from Athens to Sparta in 490 BC from Historical and Physiological Perspectives.” <i>Hermes.</i> 137 (2009) p. 161</ref> Miltiades did not waste time waiting for the Spartans, though. He mobilized the entire Athenian citizenry so that all males between the ages of eighteen and forty-two would either have to fight the arriving Persians or stand guard at the city to await a potential siege. Athens had no professional, standing army in the modern sense, but its men comprised a sort of “home guard” who could fight on short notice. Despite not being a formal army, the Athenians were well-equipped and experienced in the arts of war. <ref> Sage, Michael M. <i>Warfare in Ancient Greece: A Sourcebook.</i> ( London: Routledge, 1996), p. 38</ref>  Once the men of Athens were mobilized, it was up to Miltiades and the other generals to decide how they would engage the Persians. Some Athenians believed that it was best to wait for the Persians and fight them in a siege, but Miltiades knew that such a venture was doomed to failure after seeing what happened to Eretria. Miltiades argued that they needed to meet the Persians as soon as they landed their ships on the ground to favor their numerical inferiority. The Athenians chose the plain near a town named Marathon to engage the Persians because that was near where the Persians would come to shore, and it was sacred to the Greek demi-god Hercules. <ref>Herodotus, Book VI, 108</ref>  The Athenians could muster about 10,000 hoplites and were augmented by 1,000 men from their Greek allies in Plataea. Once the Athenians picked the location, they did not directly engage the Persians, who were camped near the shore, but gradually advanced over the course of a few days, felling trees as they went. Once they arrived at the battlefield, they were protected in their rear and flanks by rugged hills, which made the Persian cavalry useless and pinned them in a bottleneck. <ref> Hammond, pgs. 34-39</ref> With the odds somewhat more favorable, Miltiades was ready to lead his men into battle. Miltiades next initiated two battlefield strategies that proved to be fatal for the Persians. He focused his best troops on the Greek line's wings instead of the center, which was where the best troops traditionally fought in battles during this era. Once his troops were lined up, he ordered a nearly one-mile charge by his men to engage the Persian line. Although one would think that running to a battle would wind the troops and therefore be counterproductive, in this case, it had the result of rendering the Persian archery and cavalry useless. <ref>Hammond, p. 40</ref> When the two armies engaged, the Greek center gave way, but that was part of Miltiades’ ultimate strategy as Herodotus noted: “The Athenians on one wing and the Plataeans on the other were both victorious. Having got the upper hand, they left the defeated enemy to make their escape, and them drawing the two wings together into a single unit, they turned their attention to the Persians who had broken through in the center. Here again, they were triumphant, chasing the routed enemy, and cutting them down until they came to the sea.” <ref> Herodotus, Book VI, 113</ref> At that point , Datis took what was left of the fleet and tried to sail to Athens by sea. Herodotus wrote that the Persians anchored outside of the Athenian harbor before sailing back across the Aegean Sea to Ionia. <ref> Herodotus, Book VI, 115</ref>

[[File: hoplite.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|left|Greek Vase Depicting Hoplite Warriors]] Although Miltiades ' planning and battlefield strategies are the primary reasons why the Athenians were victorious at the Marathon, there were a couple of other factors that should be considered. The fact that the Greeks had rights as citizens and were the first people to articulate the abstract idea of “freedom” that is often taken for granted today cannot be understated. The Athenians had just overthrown their tyranny in 510 BC, so most of the men fighting at Marathon knew that if they lost the battle then , it would be a return to the old system. Freedom was something worth fighting for , and according to Herodotus, it made the Athenians fight better. “For while they were oppressed under tyrants, they had no better success in war than any of their neighbors, yet, once the yoke was flung off, they proved the finest fighters in the world.” <ref> Herodotus, Book V, 78</ref> On the other hand, all of the Persian army men were <i>subjects</i> of the Great King and had no real rights as individuals. Also, most of the Persian army was comprised of men from nations the Persians conquered, which means that most of them had questionable loyalties.

“For while they were oppressed under tyrantsFinally, they had no the average Greek soldier was better success in war armed than any even the elite warriors of their neighboursthe Persian army. The average Greek soldiers, known as hoplites, were well equipped with large shields, bronze helmets, yetbronze plate corselets, once and metal greaves to protect the yoke shins and calves. Their primary weapon was flung offa long thrusting spear they used in the <i>phalanx</i> shield wall, and they proved also carried daggers for close-quarter combat. <ref>Sage, p. 26</ref> In contrast, the “Immortals,” who were the finest fighters in elite soldiers of the worldPersian army, were equipped with quilted corselets, wicker shields, and carried spears and bows.” <ref> HerodotusSage, Book V, 78p. 90</ref>Essentially, the Persians were outgunned, which was a major reason why nearly 7,000 of their men were killed versus only about 200 Greeks.

On ==Conclusion==The Battle of Marathon was one of the other handmost important battles in the ancient world, if not in all of history because it temporarily stopped the men in westward expansion of the Achaemenid Persian army were <i>subjects</i> of Empire and gave the allied Greek city-states a rallying cry. Although the Great King Athenians and had no real rights as individuals. Alsotheir Plataean allies were outnumbered at Marathon, they won a majority of the Persian army was comprised of men from nations the Persians conquered, which means that most of them had questionable loyaltiesdecisive tactical and moral victory for several reasons.

Finally, The Greeks fought harder than their Persian opponents because they had the average Greek soldier was better armed than even freedom to lose and the elite warriors fear of what the Persian army. The average Greek soldiers, known as hoplites, were well equipped with large shields, bronze helmets, bronze plate corselets, and metal greaves Persians would do to protect the shins their city and calves. Their primary weapon was a long thrusting spear they used families for their involvement in the <i>phalanx</i> shield wall and they also carried daggers for close quarter combat. <ref>Sage, pIonian Revolt. 26</ref> In contrastMost importantly, the “ImmortalsAthenians were led by Miltiades,” who were the elite soldiers of proved to be a military genius. He picked the Persian army, were equipped with quilted corselets, wicker shields, time and carried spears and bows. <ref> Sage, p. 90</ref> Essentially, place to engage the Persians were outgunnedto nullify their numerical superiority, which was a major reason why nearly 7,000 of their men were killed versus only about 200 Greeksthereby giving the victory to Athens.

===Conclusion=References====<references/>The Battle of Marathon was one of the most important battles in the ancient world, if not in all of history, because it temporarily stopped the westward expansion of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and gave the allied [[Category:wikis]][[Category:Ancient Greek city-states a rallying cry. Although the Athenians and their Plataean allies were outnumbered at Marathon, they won a decisive tactical and moral victory for a number of reasons. The Greeks fought harder than their Persian opponents because they not only had their freedom to lose, but also the fear of what the Persians would do to their city and families for their involvement in the Ionian Revolt. Most importantly, the Athenians were led by Miltiades, who proved to be a military genius as he picked the time and place to engage the Persians in a way that nullified their numerical superiority, thereby giving the victory to Athens.History]]