The Significance of Marathon

For the Persians:

• The Battle of Marathon was the first real check to Persia's plans for western expansion
• Although it left the Persians weakened for the moment, it was only a temporary setback and did not deter them from making another attempt
• Darius was more determined than ever
• They had learnt a great deal about the Greeks, and realised the mistake in their strategy. In any future invasion they would return to the plan of Mardonius (a combined military and naval advance around the northern Aegean)
• They believed that far greater forces and more careful preparations would be necessary next time. These massive preparations were put into effect almost immediately

For the Greeks:

• The moral victory for Athens was far greater than the military victory. They believed "the gods had been with them" and would continue to help them in any future confrontation. This built up their confidence
• The Greeks no longer believed that the Persians were unbeatable and they would be more inclined to join in a common cause if the Persians attacked again. By their examination of the battlefield, the Spartans had learnt something of the conditions under which the Persian infantry could be defeated
• However, in their optimism, the Greeks underestimated the future danger to them, and continued their quarreling. They made no plans to defend themselves, despite adequate warnings of the Persian activities. The exception to this was the Athenian statesman Themistocles who, the Greek biographer Plutarch says, believed that Marathon was "only a prelude to a far greater struggle".
• Many saw Marathon as a victory for democracy. Changes occurred from 487 BC , when the strategoi began to be elected by the whole people; the archons from that time onwards were selected by lot. This meant that the strategoi greatly increased in importance
• Athens gained in prestige; it was the beginning of its emergence as the leading state in Greece, although it was forced to accept Spartan military and naval leadership until 479 BC
• Marathon almost immediately acquired a mystique, and the image of the "men of Marathon" took on heroic proportions