In ancient Greek and Persian history, in which year did the famous Battle of Marathon take place, when the Athenians defeated a much larger Persian force?

Introduction / Context:
The Battle of Marathon is one of the most important battles in ancient Greek history and in the early stages of the Greco Persian conflicts. It is often remembered as the moment when a relatively small Athenian army defeated a much larger Persian force and protected mainland Greece from an early invasion attempt. This question tests awareness of the exact year in which this decisive battle occurred, a fact frequently used in world history and competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers specifically to the Battle of Marathon.
• It asks for the year in which the battle took place.
• The options are different years before Christ (B.C), representing possible dates of the conflict.
• The learner is expected to know, or recall from study, the standard historical date assigned to this battle.

Concept / Approach:
According to widely accepted historical timelines, the Battle of Marathon was fought in 490 B.C during the first Persian invasion of Greece under King Darius I. The Athenians, supported by a small contingent from Plataea, met the Persians on the plain of Marathon and won a surprising victory. In general knowledge and exam oriented books, this date is consistently given as 490 B.C. The approach to answering the question is therefore to match the remembered date of the battle with the correct option among the given choices.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that the Battle of Marathon took place during the early phase of the Greco Persian Wars, not during the later invasions by Xerxes. 2. Remember that 490 B.C is often highlighted in history textbooks as the year of the Marathon victory. 3. Examine the options and identify 490 B.C among the different years listed. 4. Eliminate alternative years such as 493 B.C, 469 B.C, and 429 B.C, which do not match the standard date given for the battle. 5. Select 490 B.C as the correct answer because it aligns with the accepted historical record of the battle.
Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify the answer is to connect the date of Marathon with the broader sequence of Persian invasions. The later invasion under Xerxes, which included battles such as Thermopylae and Salamis, took place around 480 B.C. Since the Battle of Marathon clearly belongs to the earlier invasion led by Darius I, its date must be earlier than 480 B.C. The year 490 B.C fits this position and is the year repeatedly mentioned in standard references and exam guides, confirming that it is the correct choice among the options provided.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
493 B.C is slightly earlier than the commonly accepted date and does not match the established timeline of the first Persian invasion and the Battle of Marathon.
469 B.C occurs after the key battles of the early Greco Persian Wars and is not associated with a major event named Marathon in standard texts.
429 B.C lies in the period of the Peloponnesian War, long after the original Marathon conflict between Athens and Persia, so it is clearly incorrect for this question.
480 B.C is associated with later battles such as Thermopylae and Salamis under Xerxes, not with Marathon under Darius I.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the different phases of the Greco Persian Wars and mix up the dates of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis. Another common mistake is to select dates that simply seem old without checking whether they match the invasion under Darius or Xerxes. To avoid these errors, it is helpful to remember a simple link: Marathon 490 B.C, Thermopylae and Salamis around 480 B.C. Fixing this basic sequence in memory makes it easier to select 490 B.C with confidence whenever the Battle of Marathon is mentioned in exam questions.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is 490 B.C.