Why was the victory of Athens over Persia at Marathon surprising?
The victory of Athens over Persia at Marathon was surprising for several reasons:
1. The Persian Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world at the time, while Athens was relatively small and inexperienced in warfare.
2. The Persian army outnumbered the Athenian army by a significant margin, with estimates ranging from 2:1 to 6:1.
3. The Athenian army was made up of citizen-soldiers who were not professional soldiers, while the Persian army was composed of professional soldiers who had been trained and fought in numerous battles.
4. The Greeks were able to outmaneuver the Persians and utilize their knowledge of the local terrain to their advantage, ultimately defeating them in a decisive battle.
Overall, the victory of Athens over Persia at Marathon was a significant upset and a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars, demonstrating the importance of tactics, strategy, and courage in warfare.