The Battle of Marathon in Scholarship : Research, Theories and Controversies Since 1850

This is a thorough historiographic review of the Battle of Marathon. Full use is made of the major ancient sources and the debate over the value of Herodotus. The book covers the rise of the Persian Empire, relations between the Greeks and the Persian Empire and the Ionian revolt that set the stage for the Persian expedition in 490 that led to the Battle of Marathon. The book also examines the development of the Persian and Greek military systems, weapons, armor, fighting styles and military tactics. The battle itself is described along with the many questions, controversies and conflicting theories surrounding it, including an explanation of why the Athenians were able to defeat the mighty Persian Empire. The final chapter deals with the issue of the importance of the battle. The 1190 endnotes and bibliography of more than 400 sources dating from the 1850s to 2012 will allow readers to do more research on any of the topics covered. Cover 1 Acknowledgments 7 Table of Contents 8 Preface 10 1—The Major Ancient Sources Evaluated 12 2—The Persian Military 23 3—The Greek Military 39 4—The Rise of Persia 71 5—The Ionian Revolt 88 6—Greece and Persia, 492–490 BCE 118 7—The Battle 125 8—The Importance of the Battle of Marathon 197 Chapter Notes 200 Bibliography 226 Index 236 "This is an in-depth examination of the Battle of Marathon and the controversies surrounding it. The book covers the rise of the Persian Empire, relations between the Greeks in the Persian Empire and the Ionian revolt which sets the stage for the Persian expedition in 490 that leads to the Battle of Marathon"-- Provided by publisher