Phalanx greek history books

Alexanders core unit in the phalanx was the syntagma, normally 16 men deep. Our community welcomes everyone from around the world to discuss world history, historical periods, and themes in history military history, archaeology, arts and culture, and history in books and movies. Historians like hans van wees and peter krentz advocate a. For the record, by greek phalanx i mean hoplites equipped with an aspisthe hoplite shield you so kindly posted a picture of, a dorythe hoplite spear you so kindly posted a picture of, a xiphosthe hoplite sword you so kindly posted a picture of, a bronze cuirassthe hoplite plate armour you so kindly posted a picture of and a corinthian helmetthe very cool. Phalanx formation simple english wikipedia, the free. Originally employed by the spartans, it was developed by epaminondas of thebes d. Locking shields in packed formations is common from china to the vikings. The roman army abandoned the greek phalanx in favor of. While the orthodox view is the end result of a couple of different strands of scholarship, it is fair to say that every expression of this view of greek warfare in the englishspeaking world ultimately goes back to one chapter in g. See more ideas about greek warrior, ancient greece and greek history. History of the peloponnesian war by thucydides, the histories by herodotus, the peloponnesian war by donald kagan, the il. Please support ancient history encyclopedia foundation. They even had judges to determine a clear winner and loser.

Shop for ancient greek history books in ancient history books. The backbone of classical greek armies was the phalanx of heavily armored. Cavalry were rare, partly because horses were a scarce resource, and partly because the. At the battle of cynocephalae in 197 bce, the romans defeated the greek phalanx easily because. In the nineteenth century, george grote argued that the phalanx battle formation. Phalanxes remained dominant on battlefields throughout the ancient macedonian period, although wars had developed into more protracted operations generally involving sieges and naval combat. Men of bronze takes up one of the most important and fiercely debated subjects in ancient history and classics. Read legion versus phalanx online by myke cole books free 30. Phalanx, which is a deep dive into the dominance of phalanx formations and how those formations, in. The phalanx was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy. Prior to its development, during the greek dark ages, battles were fought without regard to tactic, strategy, or codes of conduct. Sep 28, 2019 greek hoplites were heavy infantry soldiers, citizensoldiers who equipped themselves when called to fight for the poleis or citystate.

A good example of what im talking about would be the chigi vase. How did the macedonian phalanx differ tactically from the. Nonfiction but can also include ancient greek literature, myths, poetry, drama and philosophy. In greek texts, the phalanx may be deployed for battle, on the march, or even camped, thus. This powerful greek formation allowed the greeks to hold off the powerful persian invasion and spread greek culture throughout the mediterranean. Macedonian phalanx simple english wikipedia, the free.

The strength of the greek phalanx lay in the endurance and discipline of the. The macedonian phalanx in my sixth book i made a promise, still unfulfilled, of taking a fitting opportunity of drawing a comparison between the arms of the romans and macedonians, and their respective system of tactics, and pointing out how they differ for better or worse from each other. These developments ushered in the archaic period 800480 bc. The epic struggle for infantry supremacy in the ancient world is an extraordinary, unique, and seminal study. Apr 16, 2018 three great battlesmantinea 418 bce, leuctra 371 bce, and gaugamela 331 bcedemonstrate the development of greek and macedonian warfare from the simple hoplite phalanx employed by greek farmers defending their fields, into the powerful, tactically flexible army which allowed alexander the great to conquer the persian empire. This powerful greek formation allowed the greeks to hold off the powerful persian invasion and spread greek culture. Polybius, histories, book 18, the macedonian phalanx. The system was used by city states, who often fought each other. I ran across this post that argues that the greek phalanx was actually a superior infantry formation and the author even goes on to say that alexanders army was superior in all respects to julius caesars wondering if any military history experts would like to pass their opinions and offer suggestions for good books that may help provided a comparison. Greek phalanx versus roman legion discussionquestion i ran across this post that argues that the greek phalanx was actually a superior infantry formation and the author even goes on to say that alexanders army was superior in all respects to julius caesars. Tactically, there were four major differences between macedonianstyle phalangists and later middle age and renaissance pike formations.

In the nineteenth century, george grote argued that the phalanx battle formation of the hoplite farmer citizensoldier. A beautiful photography coffee table photobook tour guide book with photo pictures of the spectacular country its cities and greek islands within europe paperback at walmart and save. A primary reference source was myke coles legion vs. Greek phalanxmaniples cohorts greek phalanx 3 the book is analytical with well thought arguments 4 very nicely presented like a. A simply fascinating and informative read that is exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, legion versus phalanx. The phalanx formation reached its height of effectiveness in the conquests of alexander the great who was able to move large bodies of men very quickly and whose brilliant strategies on the field made skillful use of the formation. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they all sound incredibly interesting as you can see for yourself by reading the descriptions below. Grundys thucydides and the history of his age 1911. Im creating a reading list for myself for my becoming wellread project, and ive started by identifying the books by the ancient greeks that i want to read.

Greek history ancient history ancient rome ancient greece military art military history hellenistic period greek warrior medieval world this is the first part in a series on the militaries of the macedonian successor states. A student of hanson claimed the soldiers carrying the spears over their heads showed that hoplites fought with their spear overhand instead of an under grip and that this was the earliest representation of a hoplite phalanx source. Feb 24, 2020 sigler targeted his research on sumerian, egyptian, greek, and roman societies, and how military advances in technology and tactics in those cultures forever altered the path of history. The only advantage the macedonian phalanx had over the hoplite phalanx was its use of calvary. A discussion on the differences and opposing merits of the greek phalanx vs. Sigler targeted his research on sumerian, egyptian, greek, and roman societies, and how military advances in technology and tactics in those cultures forever altered the path of history. The spartan phalanx, a tight military formation usually eight men. Phalanx and fallacies ways forward in the study of ancient greek.

Bibliography related content books cite this work license. The mass of infantry marched forward as one entity against opponents. Greek hoplites were heavy infantry soldiers, citizensoldiers who equipped themselves when called to fight for the poleis or citystate. Macedonian phalanx and alexander the great greek history, ancient history. Dec 22, 20 ancient greek history the phalanx 05 historyden. Illustration of the greek phalanx positioned for battle the sketch illustrates the deadly formation of the phalanx in ancient greek warfare. The phalanx formation is an ancient greek term for a blocklike infantry formation. Phalanx battles between greek citystates were the apex competition. Jul 15, 2016 a discussion on the differences and opposing merits of the greek phalanx vs. Each soldier was armed with the sarissa, a to 21foot spear. The term is particularly and originally used to describe the use of this formation in ancient.

The formation was made up of spearmen carrying 18 to 20 ft 5. The development of the phalanx began in 675 bc in the greek citystates of corinth, sparta and athens see ferrill 1985, 100. Jun 29, 2012 the phalanx was a genuine military advancement that forever changed how civilizations waged and fought wars. According to thucydides, the thebans had ranks of up to 25 hoplites at the battle of delion. The organization from homeric style hero warfare to tightly packed hoplite warfare was world changing. The hoplite phalanx is a frequent subject in ancient greek art at this point, the phalanx would put its collective weight to push back the enemy line and thus create fear and panic among its ranks. Spartan tactic greek phalanx with images ancient war. The kingdoms which formed following the death of alexander and the frac. Why was the macedonian phalanx so effective in alexanders. Greek historian considered the greatest historian of antiquity, he wrote a critical history of the peloponnesian war that contains the funeral oration of pericles peloponnesian war war between athens and sparta won by sparta, but left greece as a whole weak and ready to fall to its neighbors to the thebans and then the macedonians. The phalanx was a genuine military advancement that forever changed how civilizations waged and fought wars. Bred for battleunderstanding ancient spartas military machine. His is the notion that hoplite phalanx open battle on the plain. It was the innovation of the phalanx that changed all of this.

Find ancient greek history textbooks at up to 90% off. Greek phalanx illustration ancient history encyclopedia. The term ancient, or archaic, greece refers to the years 700480 b. A captivating guide to the thracian captivating history. The phalanx constituted of at least 8 ranks of hoplite warriors, however if possible more than 8 ranks were used to give the men a deeper sense of security. Asked in ancient history, greek and roman mythologies did the phalanx. Macedonian phalanx century bc the ancient greek kingdom greek history, ancient.

The phalanx was a term used as far back as the writings of homer, but the deadly combat formation was perfected around the seventh century b. Once the phalanx was formed the soldiers would advance slowly toward the opposing army, fending off missle blows with their shields and holding the formation tightly in order to break. Choose from used and new textbooks or get instant access with etextbooks and digital materials. How did the development of the phalanx affect greek society. Best books on ancient greek history and literature ancient greece. In the nineteenth century, george grote argued that the phalanx. The greek dark age drew to a close as a significant increase in population allowed urbanized culture to be restored, and the rise of the citystates poleis. A major contribution to the debate over ancient greek warfare by some of the worlds leading scholars. A hoplite phalanx was a very strong military formation but it only worked if all the soldiers were well trained, and if they were all brave enough to hold the line. Perhaps most notably, the phalanx of phillipalexander differed in several key aspects from the one utilised by later generals. Jan 18, 2012 the strength of the greek phalanx lay in the endurance and discipline of the soldiers who made up the closelypacked rectangular formation of shields and spears. Hoplite battles frequently took place in long, straight valleysso common in the greek mainlandwhere the phalanx could occupy the entire width of the valley and thus protect its flanks and its rear.

Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Jun 09, 20 men of bronze takes up one of the most important and fiercely debated subjects in ancient history and classics. The romans eliminated the greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit. Three great battlesmantinea 418 bce, leuctra 371 bce, and gaugamela 331 bcedemonstrate the development of greek and macedonian warfare from the simple hoplite phalanx employed by greek farmers defending their fields, into the powerful, tactically flexible army which allowed alexander the great to conquer the persian empire. Ancient greek warfare project gutenberg selfpublishing. The greek phalanx was nearly unstoppable in its intended mode of combat. Again the greeks didnt invent the formation because the formation is quite common sense. See more ideas about ancient greece, greek warrior and alexander the great. Macedonianstyle phalanges were in much larger formations than in later pike warfare in the early renaissan. Warfare occurred throughout the history of ancient greece, from the greek dark ages on.

Greek warfare seems to be one of the few areas of ancient history. Greek people called a soldier who fought this way a hoplite hoplight, and they called a group of soldiers who fought this way a hoplite phalanx faylanks. Ancient history encyclopedia limited is a nonprofit company registered in the united kingdom. The macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by philip ii. The germans used it against caesar, the anglosaxons used it, the viking used it.

The basic greek formation was made more flexible by philip ii of macedon and his son, alexander iii the great. Hoplite and phalanx in archaic and classical greece. Read legion versus phalanx by myke cole for free with a 30 day free trial. In fact there are numerous battles that shown when an unsopported phalangite phalanx meet a hoplite phalanx hoplite would chew their lines ranging from battles that philip had with the greeks, to the persians employing greek hoplite mercenaries, to. Army sniper charged with murder on the battlefield in new book, saving. Founded in 2006, historum is a history forum dedicated to history discussions and historical events. There could be multiple such instances of attempts to push, but it seems from the accounts of the ancients that these were perfectly orchestrated.