Page 37 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book. To close the book, close the window or tab.

CITY, STATE AND WAR
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KEEY Peerrssiaiannss Atthheenniaiannss
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the courier Pheidippides to the Spartans. That was 300 km away!
When Pheidippides arrived in Sparta the Spartans explained that they could not go to war until their religious festival had ended about ten days later. How could the Athenians hold out so long?
When the Athenian army learned that the Persians had landed at Marathon, they went to meet them. The Athenians simply stood their ground while they waited for the Spartans. As a result, for eight days the armies peacefully confronted each other.
But then the Athenians decided to attack because most of the Persian army were archers who fought
Final note: Pheidippides did not run to Athens (about 40 km away), as some popular stories tell. The modern marathon is based on a story invented by Plutarch in the 1st century AD and the distance was only decided on about 100 years ago (see page 43). It has nothing to do with the distance Pheidippides actually ran.
at a distance whereas the Greeks had javelins and so they needed to get up close.
The Greeks tried to surround the Persians even though they had fewer troops. So the wings went ahead faster than the middle. The Greek centre then gave way, and the Persians rushed forwards, allowing the Greeks to encircle them. Now the Greeks’ spears and heavy armour made it possible for them to beat the Persians. The Persians panicked and fled.
It was the first time the Greeks had won against the Persians. This made the Greeks confident in themselves and so allowed Greek (western) civilisation to continue.
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