Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece

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Questions and Answers

What was essential for the winning side to maintain during battle to ensure their safety?

Individual fighter skills

A large supply of cavalry

The phalanx formation (correct)

Heavy body-armour

Why was a single hoplite considered helpless if isolated?

He had no training for solo fighting.

He lacked the agility to dodge attacks.

His equipment was too cumbersome for individual combat. (correct)

He was unarmed and defenseless.

What was the virtue of sōphrosunē primarily associated with?

Unwavering determination to attack

Calmness and self-restraint in adversity (correct)

Aggression and offense in combat

Emotional outbursts in battle

What would happen if individual soldiers broke ranks during battle?

The entire phalanx could be endangered. Signup and view all the answers

What do the ideals of endurance and discipline in hoplite warfare contribute to in a broader cultural sense?

They embody Greek concepts of manliness and responsibility. Signup and view all the answers

During which period did hoplite battles primarily take place?

669–338 B.C. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Persian infantry differ from Greek hoplites during the Persian Wars?

They favored light infantry tactics. Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of an individual soldier fleeing or pursuing a retreating enemy?

It would break the organized formation of the phalanx. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon does Thucydides describe that occurs during the approach to battle of a phalanx?

Drifting rightward as a unit Signup and view all the answers

Why do soldiers in a phalanx tend to drift rightward according to Thucydides?

Fear makes them seek protection Signup and view all the answers

What initial advantage is gained when two phalanxes collide?

The army's right side gains an advantage Signup and view all the answers

What specific maneuver did Sparta's army employ to exploit the rightward drift during battle?

They rolled up the enemy phalanx from the right Signup and view all the answers

What term describes how Sparta's phalanx was structured to enhance maneuverability?

Articulated by battalions Signup and view all the answers

How did the first soldier in the front row influence the rest of the phalanx's alignment?

By turning his right side from the enemy Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason for the overlap of phalanxes on the right side?

Natural drift due to protective instinct Signup and view all the answers

What did Thucydides believe was the effect of fear on soldiers entering battle?

It drove them to seek shelter behind shields Signup and view all the answers

What was more significant than wealth in justifying the power of the aristocrats?

A noble bloodline Signup and view all the answers

Which mythical hero was claimed as an ancestor by the Dorian aristocrats?

Heracles Signup and view all the answers

Which ruling clan is associated with the city of Mytilene on Lesbos?

Penthilids Signup and view all the answers

What practice did the Greek nobility engage in to maintain control over their lineage?

Endogamy Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the fictional connection to Heracles by Dorian cities?

To justify their claim to the Peloponnese Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes the concept of 'noble blood' as it relates to aristocratic power?

It involved the descent from heroes in Greek mythology. Signup and view all the answers

What common belief did the Dorian aristocrats want to counteract with their Heracles-connection?

That they were recent invaders. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Penthilidai' refer to?

The noble family from Lesbos Signup and view all the answers

What classes of men primarily constituted the hoplite contingent of a city's army?

Upper and middle income classes Signup and view all the answers

How did hoplite warfare change the composition of battlefield forces compared to earlier times?

It integrated the middle class as armoured infantry Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of a city's population did the aristocratic families represent?

20 percent Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated size range of a city-state's hoplite contingent?

3,000–6,000 Signup and view all the answers

In the context of city-state populations, how many citizen families might yield a hoplite contingent of around 6,000 men?

5,000 families Signup and view all the answers

What was the estimated total population of a major Greek city like Corinth during the hoplite era?

30,000–40,000 citizens Signup and view all the answers

What was the reported number of Spartan hoplites at the Battle of Plataea?

10,000 hoplites Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'hoplite' refer to in the context of ancient Greek warfare?

Armoured infantry soldiers Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant political result of the military changes in the Greek city-states during the 2nd half of the 600s B.C.?

The rise of the Greek 'tyrants' Signup and view all the answers

Which kingdom was known for employing Greek mercenaries during the Assyrian invasions?

Urartu Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable tactic the Greeks observed from the Assyrians?

The use of concentrated heavy infantry Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the older Greek military tactics before the changes inspired by the Assyrians?

Individual duels between aristocrats Signup and view all the answers

To what change did the Greek city-states have to adapt in order to adopt the hoplite tactics?

Recruiting the male middle class as armored soldiers Signup and view all the answers

What was the military dominance of the Assyrian kingdom based on?

Heavy infantry formations Signup and view all the answers

How did the Greek city-states' interpretation of heavy infantry differ from that of the Assyrians?

Greeks employed heavy infantry in smaller, less organized units Signup and view all the answers

What period is noted for the transition to hoplite tactics in Greek warfare?

700–650 B.C. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hoplite Warfare

Hoplite warfare dominated ancient Greek battlefields from the 7th to the mid-4th century BCE.
The phalanx, a dense formation of heavily armored infantry, was the cornerstone of hoplite warfare.
Hoplites relied on disciplined coordination and teamwork for their effectiveness.
Individual hoplites were vulnerable when isolated, their heavy armor and large shields limiting their maneuverability.
The virtue of sophrosyne, encompassing self-restraint, endurance, and calmness in adversity, was central to hoplite ideals.
The phalanx's rightward drift, a phenomenon described by Thucydides, resulted from soldiers seeking protection behind their comrades' shields.
This rightward drift gave the right wing of each phalanx an initial advantage.
Sparta, renowned for its military prowess, exploited the rightward drift by training its soldiers to execute a "rolling up" maneuver to overwhelm the enemy.

The Rise of the Hoplite

The concept of using concentrated heavy infantry in dense formations was likely inspired by Assyrian military tactics observed by Greek mercenaries in the 8th century BCE.
The adoption of hoplite warfare necessitated the recruitment and training of the middle class, allowing city-states to field larger heavy infantry contingents.
This social change shifted the balance of power in Greek city-states, as middle-class citizens gained prominence in military and political affairs.

Hoplite Society and Aristocracy

Wealth and “noble blood” were central to the aristocratic elite’s dominance.
Aristocratic families claimed descent from mythical heroes, solidifying their power and social standing.
Endogamy, or marriage within the clan, was a key strategy used by aristocrats to preserve their social exclusivity and maintain their bloodline's purity.

The Hoplite Army

The size of a typical hoplite army ranged from 3,000 to 6,000 men.
The hoplite contingent of a city-state's military represented a significant portion of its fighting-age male population, typically around 60%.
The largest hoplite armies documented include 10,000 Spartan hoplites at the Battle of Plataea (479 BCE) and 16,000 Athenian hoplites during the Peloponnesian War (431 BCE).

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of hoplite warfare, which dominated ancient Greek battlefields from the 7th to the mid-4th century BCE. Learn about the significance of the phalanx formation, the role of individual hoplites, and the strategic advantages gained from disciplined coordination and teamwork. Delve into the principles that underpinned the success of Greek city-states in warfare.