Ancient Greece Battle of Marathon 490 B.C.E.

Essential Questions  6.G.1 Understand geographic factors that influenced the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions (i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) over time.  6.H.2 Understand the political, economic and/or social significance of historical events, issues, individuals and cultural groups.  6.C.1 Explain how the behaviors and practices of individuals and groups influenced societies, civilizations and regions.

6.G.1.1 Explain how the physical features and human characteristics of a place influenced the development of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., location near rivers and natural barriers, trading practices and spread of culture). 6.G.1.3 Compare distinguishing characteristics of various world regions (e.g., physical features, culture, political organization and ethnic make-up). 6.H.2.2 Compare historical and contemporary events and issues to understand continuity and change. 6.C.1.1 Analyze how cultural expressions reflected the values of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., oral traditions, art, dance, music, literature, and architecture). Clarifying Objectives

 How did the Athenians use NATURAL BARRIERS during the Battle of Marathon?  Why would the Athenians choose to live in a region that had NATURAL BARRIERS?  How does the region of Greece’s physical features help Ancient Greece in their famous battles?  How do today’s Marathons relate to the Ancient Battle of Marathon?  How did the Athenians create a culture expression to honor victory at the battle of Marathon? Essential Questions

 Ancient Greece is located between the Mediterranean Sea & Aegean Sea  It is known for beautiful SEA & MOUNTAIN settings  These distinguishing features have PROTECTED Greece for hundreds of years Ancient Greece

Get with a partner and answer… How does the region of Greece’s physical features help Ancient Greece in their famous battles? Why would the Athenians choose to live in a region that had NATURAL BARRIERS? Essential Questions

 Darius never forgot about his hatred of Ancient Greece and planned an all out attack  He had to decide whether to attack  Attack by land  Attack by sea  He decides to attack by land and march 26.2 miles to Athens and burn it to the ground Athens will Burn

Athens going into the Battle of Marathon only had 10,000 men King Darius of Persia had united the Persian Army and now was trying to get revenge on Athens Darius brings 20,000 men to attack at Marathon Athens did have one secret weapon Athens Overmatched

 Athens General Miltiades knows that for Darius to march to Athens he needs to go through the mountains  Miltiades will block the mountain pass with his men Natural Barriers

The mountains on the sides of Miltiades Athenian Army serve as PROTECTION so the large Persian Army could not get the Athenians from the side NATURAL BARRIERS always are used as PROTECTION Natural Barriers

o Get with a partner and answer… o How did the Athenians use NATURAL BARRIERS during the Battle of Marathon? Essential Questions

Athenian General Miltiades uses the Phalanx Battle Formation This is very affective because the natural barrier of the mountain does not allow the Persians to get to the sides Phalanx Formation

Cork in a Bottle Miltiades men form a kind of “Cork in a Bottle” Persians must break through the “Cork” to get through the mountain pass & on to Athens

Persians send 10,000 Light Infantry at the Athenians Persian Light Infantry carry small swords and wicker shields They slam up against the Athenian Phalanx & are no match for the Athenians Persians Land in Marathon Bay

Immortals were the Heavy Infantry of the Persians Immortals are the Athenians worst nightmare They are killing machines that are very well trained and have never lost a battle Immortals

Because the Immortals were so deadly Miltiades has to change his strategy Miltiades brings his Phalanx out of the Mountain pass to the mouth of the pass This is so he has a little bit of room on the flanks to close in Miltiades changes his Plan

Because the mouth of the pass is wider he has to take some of his men out of the CENTER of the Phalanx & put them on the sides to fortify the sides This made the center of the Phalanx weaker but the sides stronger Miltiades changes his Plan

The reason he made the sides stronger… ① He wanted to make sure the Persians couldn't get to the sides and surround him ② He knew the Persians like to use their Horseman to attack from the sides because that is the weakest part of an army Why make the sides Stronger

Immortals attack the center of the Phalanx crashing into the Athenians and immediately pushing them back He realizes that the Immortals are pushing him back and he is losing The Phalanx is about to bust open Immortals Attack

Although the center of the Phalanx is being pushed back The sides (Flanks) are holding up and pushing back the Immortals on the sides Surprise!!

Miltiades orders a Surrounding Miltiades seeing that the Phalanx on the sides is slaughtering the Immortal guard orders the side Phalanxes to collapse to the center The Persians are surrounded on 3 sides and panic

Knowing that they are beat the Persians retreat to Marathon Bay where their ships are as they are being chased by the Athenians The Athenians cannot get there in time and the Persians shove off & head for Athens Persian Retreat

 Miltiades is very happy as he has defeated the Persian Army at Marathon only having 10,000 warriors  He is SCARED though because he knows that they have gotten back on the ships and are heading to Athens to burn it down Mixed Emotions

Running the Marathon Miltiades sends a runner named Pheidippides to warn the city of Athens The runner will have to run 26.2 miles from Marathon Bay to the city of Athens He runs all night long

 The runner reaches Athens from Marathon in the morning and runs into the center of town square & yells NIKE which is the Greek Goddess of VICTORY  He warns that the Persians are on their way  He throws up his hands collapses and dies Finishing the Marathon

Because of the messenger Athens assembles an army to wait for the Persians at Athens The Persians get to Athens and see the massive Athenian Army waiting for them Persians decide better of attacking & sail home Athens Army Assembles

Athens is Saved  Miltiades saves the city of Athens by…. 1- Using a NATURAL BARRIER to defend Marathon Bay 2- Send the messenger to run the “Marathon” to warn Athens that the Persians were coming

A tribute to the Greek Goddess Athena is built to honor the soldiers at the Battle of Marathon This building is called the PARTHENON On its walls 192 figures are carved to honor all 192 Athenians soldiers that died at the Battle of Marathon Parthenon

 Get with a partner and answer…  How did the Athenians create a culture expression to honor victory at the battle of Marathon? Essential Questions

Battle of Marathon still lives with us today People run long distance races today called Marathons These races are exactly 26.2 miles the exact distance from Marathon Bay to Athens Marathons Today

Get with a partner and answer… How do today’s Marathons relate to the Ancient Battle of Marathon? Essential Questions

6.G.1.1 (Natural Barriers) Miltiades used the Natural Barrier of a mountain pass to PROTECT his civilization from invasion 6.H.2.2 (Contemporary & Historical Events) Long distance races that are 26.2 miles long are still called Marathons today in honor of the Battle of Marathon 6.G.1.3 (distinguishing characteristic of regions [physical features]) Most of Greece has mountains which played an important role in Ancient Greece’s famous battles 6.C.1.1 (Architecture) Athenians constructed the PARTHENON to celebrate the Marathon Important Points