 M any scholars agree on the theory that the human race came out of Africa and evolved according to the climate and conditions of the region where they settled. Having fingers, we seem to have been meant to eat fruits and hunt. Indeed tribes were nomad hunters, who later became shepherds.
See news about Latest news Many scholars agree on the theory that the human race came out of Africa and evolved according to the climate and conditions of the region where they settled. Having fingers, we seem to have been meant to eat fruits and hunt. Indeed tribes were nomad hunters, who later became shepherds. This theory holds that the tribes that went north to Europe and beyond became the white races. They were all barbaric nomads. Others went east and developed greater civilizations. The Sumerians and Babylonians began farming in the delta between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is today Iraq. This enabled shepherds to become farmers and settle down in an area instead of roaming the countryside. There is not much recorded history of this era. What there might have been, burnt down with the Alexandria library, one of the largest tragedies for humanity. Our own civilization seems to have evolved from nomad Shepard tribes who ventured south, beyond the Alps and into the peninsula containing what used to be Yugoslavia, Albania, Macedonia and Greece. Protected by the mountains on the north and the sea on the other three sides, they seem to have prospered there. The many bays and inlets were propitious for maritime action and the ancient Greeks seem to have developed those skills admirably. Their sea travels through the Mediterranean took them to Egypt. There they learned much, for Egypt was then one of the most advanced civilizations of the world. What they learned in Egypt they brought back to Greece and improved upon. Massive Egyptian temples became light and airy ones in Greece. Sculptors improved the rough Egyptian forms by sculping to imitate human forms. Painters and other artists developed well beyond the Egyptians; so did the scientists. Hieroglyphics suffered perhaps the most astonishing metamorphosis, becoming the Greek alphabet, ultimately improved by Cadmus. Learning was encouraged; schools were established. Sports became an important part of Greek life. Gradually, the Greeks developed to such an extent that they became leaders in arts, literature, science and philosophy. During the VI Century B.C., as population grew, they expanded into adjacent areas, the Middle East and outlaying islands. The Persian Empire however, claimed sovereignty over the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Greek settlements in Asia owed tributes to the Persians. The Greeks, being used to freedom, found it hard to submit to the ferrous rule of the Persians and their extortion. Conflicts were inevitable and culminated with the Persians taking complete control of the Greek cities in Asia. In Greece, this news caused great consternation. There was talk, and debate on what to do to remedy the situation. Persian Emperor Darius decided to invade Greece to put an end to what he saw as a rebellious area of his Empire. He sent heralds ahead to demand soil and water for his army as an acknowledgement of Greece's submission to the Persian Empire. His heralds went all over Greece, but when they reached Sparta, the heralds were thrown into wells and told to help themselves to all the earth and water they wanted. Emperor Darius made ready for war. After a long preparation, a large fleet conveyed over 150,000 men to Greece, in the year 490 B.C. This army was under the command of Artaphernes and for a long time, found little resistance. City after city submitted to the overwhelming forces of the Persian Empire. Artaphernes approached Athens. He considered that taking Athens would be the turning point of the war. To reach it, Artaphernes selected Marathon as the site of its landing. Its plain terrain by the coast made it easily accessible. There is a semicircle of flatland, six miles long and two miles wide at its widest point, bounded by the sea on one side and mountains on the other. There were at the time, swamps further limiting the area in which an army could operate. Marathon is situated about 22 miles to the northeast of Athens. His army was estimated at this point to number about 150,000 men, 10,000 out of which were cavalry. The opposing forces of Athens and its allies numbered about 10,000 in all. Its command had been entrusted to ten generals, who commanded one day each, in succession. Before the battle, Themistocles, one of the ten, ceded his day to Miltiades, the best general they had; so did the other eight generals. After landing and seeing the swampy terrain, there is evidence to show that the Persian Army was considering re-embarking to land closer to Athens. They had little reason to fear attack from the Greeks, due to their great superiority and power. But... attack they did! Humberto Rodriguez, CLU is a writer, author, programmer, marketer, insurance and financial consultant. Webmaster of several sites, he teaches you how to develop, publish and market your own website. Subscribe to his free newsletter: http://HRFinancial.com/ Continued On Next Page (Persian, Page 2) ... AUTHOR: Humberto Rodriguez  TAGS: Travel Battle of Marathon history BOOKMARK: Digg it | Add to Del.ICIO | Add to FARK ACTIONS: Comment Save Print Register free acount  |
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