Transcript Document

Pre-Hellenistic Greek Military
An examination of the tactics, logistics, and
strategy of land and naval warfare
Tactics of Early Hoplite Warfare
• Tightly-formed array provided
protection and sense of security
• level ground needed for combat
• army usually arranged 4-8 rows
deep, and as wide as possible
• virtually no power to maneuver:
only option is advance or retreat
Tactical Improvements to the Phalanx
• Spartans, with first professional
army, develop superior
articulation through flank
maneuver
• Thebans develop deep
formation to strengthen flanks.
“Sacred Band” used as
immediate reserve force.
Tactical Additions to the Phalanx
• Archers: most effective missile
infantry. Equipment cheap, but
skill necessary.
• Slings: needs least equipment,
most skill
• Javelins: minimal amount of
ammo available
• Cavalry: lack of stirrups makes
fighting ineffective, but
mobility allows flank / rear
attack
Greek Armor (underwent a continuous
evolution in design from the Bronze Age to Byzantine
period)
Foot soldiers were
normally equipped
with the following:
Swords
Spears
Javelins
Bows
Arrows
Sling-propelled pellets
Basic elements of body armor
(Panoply):
Shield
Helmet
Breastplate
Separate arm, thigh, lower leg,
and foot protectors (these
protectors were soon discarded
since they prevented mobility)
Specifics of Greek
Armor
The Breastplate protected the vital
organs in case the shield failed to
protect you. The helmets used
varied but the design elements were
similar in all of them. They were
made to deflect blows rather than
absorb them and the crown and
cheek bones were usually
reinforced. They had limited vision
because guards came down to
protect the sides of the face and a
nose guard came down in the
center. The smaller openings on the
head though made it harder to get a
good strike at the head which was
the most prominent target since it
stuck up above the shield line.
Logistics of Hoplite Warfare
• Individuals invested in own
equipment
• Minimal training for hoplites
• Missile infantry required more
extensive training, community
support
• Invading army used local
resources
• Extended campaigns planned
around harvest
• Armies relied on private
merchants, both from home and
native, to find and provide
purchasable food.
Strategic Considerations of Hoplite Warfare
• Raiding Strategy vs. Persisting
Strategy
• Raids:
– result of limited political
objectives
– used when invaders do not
desire direct battle, or as a
means to initiate direct battle
– effective strategy in
agricultural-based economies
– logistically feasible
Naval Warfare
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Ships originally used to transport troops,
supplies
circa 800 BC rams are added
– superiority is question of speed and size of
ram
– speed is increased through additional oars:
bireme, trireme, etc.
Naval Tactics
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Ancient Persia
The Persian Empire covered the majority of the
middle East, portions of Europe, Asia, and
Africa. Within the domain of Persia were the
conquered empires of Babylonia, Lydia,
Thrace, and Macedonia.
The Persian Wars
Along with establishing Greece, especially Athens, as a major power, the initial wars between
Greece and Persia also upset one of the major early conceptions about war: that larger
numbers were superior. Having been defeated numerous times by the Persians at past
confrontations, and having only a third of their man power, going into the battle of
Marathon, the Greeks had little hope for victory. And yet, when it came time for the actual
battle, the Greeks prevailed. The Greek general, a former Persian soldier named Militades,
skipped over the traditional formation of his phalanxes, bulking ends of his lines, and
leaving the center weak. As a result of this simple strategy, the Persians almost broke
through the center of the Greek lines, only to find themselves outflanked. Later at the
battle of Plataea, the Spartans proved this once again. Heavily outnumbered, they
concentrated their efforts upon taking out the Persian general. Accomplishing this, the
leaderless Persian army fled.
Marathon
http://www.timetrips.co.uk/mara%20battle.htm
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During the battle, the Athenian
wings destroyed the Persian wings,
and turned against the center. If we
are to believe the body count after the
battle, the Athenians lost 192 men in
the ensuing mêlée, their opponents
6,400. This is exaggerated (6,400 =
192 × 331/3), but no doubt the
invaders suffered severely.
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Thin the Ranks
Miltiades had to thin the ranks. In order
for the Greek battle front to match the
Persians, the phalanx could not be 8
men deep all the way along. But where
to thin? What do you think?
The Greeks knew that the strongest
enemy troops were in the centre - the
Persians themselves with their spears,
and the Sakai with their battle axes. So
how about keeping the Greek centre
strong, and thinning on the flanks?
Phase 1
The Greeks thin down to four ranks, on
both the left and right flanks. Now the
Persians are much stronger on each
flank. The Greeks in the centre are
reasonably well-matched to the strong
Persian forces. Hoplites overall were
better warriors and had better weapons
and armour than the Persians. What do
you think would happen next?
Sparta
Throughout the Peloponnesian war, Sparta was the
dominant strategic force. Having developed under the
threat of revolt from their helot slaves and centered
their culture around an intense military lifestyle, land
warfare was second nature to the Spartan people. Had
the war come down to a face to face confrontation on
land, there is little doubt Sparta would come out the
victor. Even at sea, the Spartans superior strategic
capabilities bested the Athenians. Having been given a
fleet by the Persians, the two fleets eventually found
themselves at a standstill in the ports of the northern
Mediterranean. Each day, the Spartans would row up
to the Athenian port, and promptly run away. On the
5th day of this, instead of heading back to their home
port, the Spartans simply followed the Athenians back
into their port, easily defeating them.
Athens
While the Athenians did not share the Spartans
propensity for land war, they did excel at naval
warfare. By means of a wall connecting them to
the shore of the Mediterranean, the Athenians
could easily defend themselves from a land attack,
and mount naval attacks at their convenience. The
Athenians also at the forefront of the development
of the Trireme. While very limited in terms of their
ability to traverse long distances, trireme were
quite effective at ramming other ships Unlike the
Spartans, the Athenians often succumbed to
emotion and pride. On their expedition to take
control of Syracuse, the Athenians were so
confident, the allowed a Spartan officer to pass
through their lines on his way into Syracuse. As a
result of this lapse in their military mindset,
Syracuse was able to prepare for the Athenian
attack and the Athenian expedition was all but
eliminated.