The Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) In the early morning light, Athenian hoplites stood in silence on the plain of Marathon. Ahead of them waited an army that represented the most powerful empire the world had ever seen. Behind them lay Athens—undefended, vulnerable, and aware that defeat would mean destruction. What happened that day would change not only Greek history, but the future of Western civilization. Historical Background: Persia vs Greece By the late 6th century BCE,