The Battle of Marathon in scholarship - Dennis L Fink

This is an in-depth examination of the Battle of Marathon and the controversies surrounding it. Full use is made of the major ancient sources and the debate over the value of Herodotus, our major source. 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. The book also examines the development of the Persian and Greek military systems, weapons, armour, styles of fighting 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 question of the importance of the battle. The 1190 endnotes and bibliography of over 400 sources dating from the 1850s to 2012 will allow readers to do more research on any of the topics covered.