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

2. 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.

3. Clarifying Objectives
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).

4. Essential Questions
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?

5. Ancient Greece
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

6. Essential Questions 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?

7. Athens will Burn
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

8. Athens Overmatched
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

9. Natural Barriers
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

10. 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
16:42-18:30

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

12. Phalanx Formation
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

13. 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

14. Persians Land in Marathon Bay
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

15. Immortals 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

16. Miltiades changes his Plan
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

17. 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

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

19. Immortals Attack
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

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

21. 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
29:02-36:28

22. Persian Retreat
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

23. Mixed Emotions
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

24. 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

25. Finishing the Marathon
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
38:02-38:45

26. Athens Army Assembles
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

27. Athens is Saved Miltiades saves the city of Athens by….
Using a NATURAL BARRIER to defend Marathon Bay
Send the messenger to run the “Marathon” to warn Athens that the Persians were coming
39:50-41:00

28. Parthenon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Xr4u8mofU 21:29-22:53
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
21:29-22:53

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

30. Marathons Today 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

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

32. Important Points
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