Скачать или смотреть THE BATTLE OF MARATHON: The Day 10,000 Greeks Changed the Course of History

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Everyone knows the legend of the marathon race, but few understand the desperate battle that inspired it. In September 490 BC, ten thousand Greek citizen-soldiers faced twenty-five thousand Persian warriors on a coastal plain—and achieved one of the most lopsided victories in military history. This wasn't just a battle; it was the moment that saved democracy itself, just twenty years after its birth.

This documentary reveals the tactical brilliance that military academies still study today. We explore the genius of General Miltiades, who understood Persian tactics better than any Greek alive, and his revolutionary decision to order heavy infantry to charge at full sprint—something never attempted before. Beyond the fighting, we uncover the political crisis in Athens, the agonizing five-day stalemate, and the mysterious disappearance of Persian cavalry that created the perfect moment to strike.

From the desperate run of Pheidippides to Sparta, to the brutal beach fighting where Aeschylus's brother lost his hand grabbing a fleeing Persian ship, this video breaks down the Battle of Marathon phase by phase. We analyze Miltiades's deadly double-envelopment tactic—deliberately weakening his center to trap the Persian elite—and the incredible discipline that allowed ordinary farmers and craftsmen to execute it flawlessly.

Finally, we examine what Marathon truly meant for human civilization. The victory didn't just save Athens; it preserved the fragile democratic experiment that would produce Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the philosophical foundations of Western thought. Witness how 192 Greek dead against 6,400 Persian casualties proved that free citizens fighting for their liberty could defeat professional soldiers serving a king. This is the complete story of Marathon—the courage, the innovation, and the civilization-defining victory that echoes through every marathon run today.

HISTORICAL SOURCES:
Herodotus, The Histories (Book VI)
Plutarch, Life of Aristides
Cornelius Nepos, Life of Miltiades
Modern analysis based on archaeological surveys of the Marathon plain and military tactical studies.

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#BattleOfMarathon #AncientGreece #GreekHistory #PersianWars #MilitaryHistory #Miltiades #AthenianDemocracy #AncientWarfare