athenian military tactics

[2] Although very heavy (8–15 kg or 18–33 lb), the design of this shield was such that it could be supported on the shoulder. They were primarily armed as spear-men and fought in a phalanx (see below). Tensions resulting from this, and the rise of Athens and Sparta as pre-eminent powers during the war led directly to the Peloponnesian War, which saw further development of the nature of warfare, strategy and tactics. Hoplite armor was extremely expensive for the average citizen, so it was commonly passed down from the soldier's father or relative. The Greek navy functioned much like the ancient Greek army. At the initial phase of the war, Athens was so much stronger that the Spartan strategy could not work, resulting in a fairly easy initial victory for the Athenians. War also stimulated production because of the sudden increase in demand for weapons and armor. The use of such a large navy was also a novelty to the Greeks. The basic Greek formation was made more flexible by Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander III the Great. Opposition to it throughout the period 369–362 BC caused numerous clashes. More importantly, it permitted the formation of a shield-wall by an army, an impenetrable mass of men and shields. Adcock, Frank E., The Greek and Macedonian Art of War, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1962. But this was unstable, and the Persian Empire sponsored a rebellion by the combined powers of Athens, Thebes, Corinth and Argos, resulting in the Corinthian War (395–387 BC). Hoplites were armored infantrymen, armed with spears and shields, and the phalanx was a formation of these soldiers with their shields locked together and spears pointed forward. Certainly, by approximately 650 BC, as dated by the 'Chigi vase', the 'hoplite revolution' was complete. The most known version of this tactic occurred during the Battle of Dyme in 218 BC, when one side pretended to retreat from the fighting and enticed their enemy to follow them into an ambush. With time the Ancient Greece Military forces in Ancient Greece became much more structured. By the time the young Athenian males turned 18, they would give their oath to the Gods of the City, and join the city's army for a two full years of basic training. Snodgrass, A., "The Hoplite Reform and History," Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. Greek Tactics. Conversely, the Spartans repeatedly invaded Attica, but only for a few weeks at a time; they remained wedded to the idea of hoplite-as-citizen. Following the eventual defeat of the Athenians in 404 BC, and the disbandment of the Athenian-dominated Delian League, Ancient Greece fell under the hegemony of Sparta. Finally Phillip sought to establish his own hegemony over the southern Greek city-states, and after defeating the combined forces of Athens and Thebes, the two most powerful states, at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, succeeded. Broadly stated, strategy is the planning, coordination, and general direction of military operations to meet overall political and military objectives. The early encounters, at Nemea and Coronea were typical engagements of hoplite phalanxes, resulting in Spartan victories. The chigi vase, dated to around 650 BC, is the earliest depiction of a hoplite in full battle array. Van der Heyden, A. Although the Spartans did not attempt to rule all of Greece directly, they prevented alliances of other Greek cities, and forced the city-states to accept governments deemed suitable by Sparta. The ships would require more marines because the constricted water would prevent the use of typical tactics, and would increase the risk of the ship being boarded by the enemy.[14]. [2] However, at first sight of enemy ships, the Greek navy would turn to starboard or port to form its line for battle. Stories like the Battle of Thermopylae demonstrate the strength and skill Greeks had in land battle. Best, Jan G. P., Thracian Peltasts and their Influence on the Greek Warfare, Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969. These hoplites (named after their large shields or hoplons) became both a major political and military force throughout Greece. In order to continue being successful, the Greek navy had to create new tactics and technology to be able to conquer its opponents. Their uniquely large scuta, as the Romans’ shields were called, allowed them to present a 360-degree wall of wood to opponents. At the decisive Battle of Leuctra (371 BC), the Thebans routed the allied army. Van Wees, Hans, "The Development of the Hoplite Phalanx: Iconography Reality in the Seventh Century," in Hans van Wees, War and Violence in Ancient Greece, London and Swansea: Duckworth and the Classical Press of Wales, 2000, pp. When exactly the phalanx developed is uncertain, but it is thought to have been developed by the Argives in their early clashes with the Spartans. Although alliances between city states occurred before this time, nothing on this scale had been seen before. Raising such a large army had denuded Athens of defenders, and thus any attack in the Athenian rear would cut off the Army from the City. Greek history is one of the most well-known stories across the world. [citation needed] When battles occurred, they were usually set piece and intended to be decisive. War also led to acquisition of land and slaves which would lead to a greater harvest, which could support a larger army. The Greeks' success on land easily translated onto the sea. One way opponents countered the diekplous was by retreating their fleet into a tight circle with the hulls of their ships facing outward. [4] This battle formation was also so successful for the Greek navy that their opponents began to utilize it as well. Morrison, J.S. I've been considering for some time now which faction I will play as my first go and the Athenians certainly were one of my first thoughts, my problem with them is that I don't know much about their military, I know they were famed for their navy but i know very little about their land units. Unable to maintain professional armies, the city-states relied on their citizens to fight. Engels, Donald, Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1978. Thucydides described hoplite warfare as othismos aspidon or "the push of shields". The major innovation in the development of the hoplite seems to have been the characteristic circular shield (Aspis), roughly 1 m (3.3 ft) in diameter, and made of wood faced with bronze. Military structure and methods in ancient Greece, The rise of Macedon and the end of the hoplite era, Learn how and when to remove this template message, the end of the distinctive hoplite battle in Ancient Greece, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ancient_Greek_warfare&oldid=998818850, Articles lacking in-text citations from February 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2013, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Cavalry had always existed in Greek armies of the classical era but the cost of horses made it far more expensive than hoplite armor, limiting cavalrymen to nobles and the very wealthy (social class of hippeis). 146–176. Konijnendijk, Roel, Classical Greek Tactics: A Cultural History. Spartans instead relied on slaves called helots for civilian jobs such as farming. [25] The revenge of the Persians was postponed 10 years by internal conflicts in the Persian Empire, until Darius's son Xerxes returned to Greece in 480 BC with a staggeringly large army (modern estimates suggest between 150,000–250,000 men). Hornblower, Simon, "Sticks, Stones, and Spartans: The Sociology of Spartan Violence," in Hans van Wees, War and Violence in Ancient Greece, London and Swansea: Duckworth and the Classical Press of Wales, 2000, pp. Tactics implement strategy by short-term decisions on the movement of troops and employment of weapons on the field of battle. In the aftermath, the Spartans were able to establish themselves as the dominant force in Greece for three decades. This 'combined arms' approach was furthered by the extensive use of skirmishers, such as peltasts. Along with the rise of the city-states evolved a new style of warfare: the hoplite phalanx. Shock tactics were a variable in Greco-Roman warfare, not the variable that always determined the outcome of ancient battles. Tactically, the hoplites were very vulnerable to attacks by cavalry[citation needed], and the Athenians had no cavalry to defend the flanks. [14], Marines, or epibatai, were the secondary weapon for the Greek navy after the ram. [17] The arrows had an effective range of 160–170 meters and would inevitably produce a casualty when fired. Many Greek traditions and cultures have become immortalized in the works of its literary giants and its philosophical minds. The arrows of the seagoing archers were deadly and efficient and could decrease the enemy’s fighting power considerably by picking off officers and men on the enemy ship. The centre and right were staggered backwards from the left (an 'echelon' formation), so that the phalanx advanced obliquely. The battle would then rely on the valour of the men in the front line, while those in the rear maintained forward pressure on the front ranks with their shields. However, a united Greek army of c. 40,000 hoplites decisively defeated Mardonius at the Battle of Plataea, effectively ending the invasion. "Greek Naval Tactics in the 5th century BC. Nevertheless, it was an important innovation, one which was developed much further in later conflicts. When light-armed forces began to be used, ambushing became a recognized scheme. They were a force to be reckoned with. There was increased emphasis on navies, sieges, mercenaries and economic warfare. Fisher, Nick, "Hybris, Revenge and Stasis in the Greek City-States," in Hans van Wees, War and Violence in Ancient Greece, London and Swansea: Duckworth and the Classical Press of Wales, 2000, pp. Following this victory, the Thebans first secured their power-base in Boeotia, before marching on Sparta. [3] The opposing sides would collide viciously, possibly terrifying many of the hoplites of the front row. Set-piece battles during this war proved indecisive and instead there was increased reliance on naval warfare, and strategies of attrition such as blockades and sieges. This did not go unnoticed by the Persian Empire, which sponsored a rebellion by the combined powers of Athens, Thebes, Corinth and Argos, resulting in the Corinthian War (395–387 BC). [24] When light-armed forces began to be used, ambushing became a recognized scheme. The war (or wars, since it is often divided into three periods) was for much of the time a stalemate, punctuated with occasional bouts of activity. Neither side could afford heavy casualties or sustained campaigns, so conflicts seem to have been resolved by a single set-piece battle. Sparta was an exception to this rule, as every Spartiate was a professional soldier. "The Diekplous. As the massive Persian army moved south through Greece, the allies sent a small holding force (c. 10,000) men under the Spartan king Leonidas, to block the pass of Thermopylae whilst the main allied army could be assembled. In. Whitehead, Ian (1987-10-01). Lazenby, John F., "The Killing Zone," in Victor D. Hanson, (ed. The city-states of southern Greece were too weak to resist the rise of the Macedonian kingdom in the north. The peace treaty which ended the war, effectively restored the status quo ante bellum, although Athens was permitted to retain some of the territory it had regained during the war. The Greek navy, despite their lack of experience, also proved their worth holding back the Persian fleet whilst the army still held the pass. The Thebans marched into Messenia, and freed it from Sparta; this was a fatal blow to Sparta, since Messenia had provided most of the helots which supported the Spartan warrior society. The cavalry would then attempt to run into the enemy and sever communications between generals and soldiers. Because hoplites were all protected by their own shield and others’ shields and spears, they were relatively safe as long as the formation didn't break. The scale and scope of warfare in Ancient Greece changed dramatically as a result of the Greco-Persian Wars. The eventual triumph of the Greeks was achieved by alliances of many city-states, on a scale never seen before. They would have hierarchies much like what we have today. 125–166. led many to attribute Athenian military success to their political system. 85, 1965, pp. Casualties were slight compared to later battles, amounting to anywhere between 5 and 15% for the winning and losing sides respectively,[7] but the slain often included the most prominent citizens and generals who led from the front. ), Atlas of the Classical World, London: Nelson, 1959. [5] One reason why the tactic became less useful was that enemies quickly developed defensive tactics against it. [21] For example, during the battle of Syracuse, the depth of the Athenian army's phalanx was 8 men, while its opponent, the Syracusan army, had a depth of 16 men. Who has not chanced upon accounts of the spectacle that was the Trojan War? [8] Like the diekplous, the periplous' purpose was to expose the enemy's stern for an easy ramming target. In fact, Athenians developed the largest and most sophisticated war machine in all of Greece and applied tactic… They also restored the capability of organized warfare between these Poleis (as opposed to small-scale raids to acquire livestock and grain, for example). 110–122. The fractious nature of Ancient Greek society seems to have made continuous conflict on this larger scale inevitable. Sparta specialized in land conflict, and it was considered widely as the best and leading force of the Greek army. (1987-10-01). 1988. The timing had to be very carefully arranged so that the invaders' enemy's harvest would be disrupted but the invaders' harvest would not be affected. The age of the phalanx may be traced back to Sumeria in the 25th century BCE, through Egypt , and finally appearing in Greek literature through Homer in the 8th century BCE (and since has been generally associated with Greek warfare strategy, the name itself coming from the Greek … This opportunity occurs while the attacked vessel stops rowing to evaluate the strength of each side of oarsman, leaving it in a standstill. Although both sides suffered setbacks and victories, the first phase essentially ended in stalemate, as neither league had the power to neutralise the other. Persian tactics primarily had four stages involving archers, infantry and cavalry. Connolly, Peter, Greece and Rome at War, London: Greenhill Books, 1998. From the moment Greeks started fighting with "bronze shields and in the phalanx," they must have regularly been drawn up in rank and file and not just crowded together. When advancing towards an enemy, the phalanx would break into a run that was sufficient to create momentum but not too much as to lose cohesion. Despite the heroic stories of the era, this was a form of warfare that leaned towards anony… The Chigi vase, dated to around 650 BC, is the earliest depiction of a hoplite in full battle array. The Athenian Navy in the Classical Period: A Study of Athenian Naval Administration and Military Organization in the Fifth and Fourth Centuries B.C. The Theban left wing was thus able to crush the elite Spartan forces on the allied right, whilst the Theban centre and left avoided engagement; after the defeat of the Spartans and the death of the Spartan king, the rest of the allied army routed. At least in the Archaic Period, the fragmentary nature of Ancient Greece, with many competing city-states, increased the frequency of conflict, but conversely limited the scale of warfare. The second Persian invasion is famous for the battles of Thermopylae and Salamis. To fight the enormous armies of the Achaemenid Empire was effectively beyond the capabilities of a single city-state. ), Warfare in the Ancient World, pp. Our secondary series called the Armies and Tactics finally makes its debut. Although by the end of the Theban hegemony the cities of southern Greece were severely weakened, they might have risen again had it not been for the ascent to power of the Macedonian kingdom in northern Greece. Building on the experience of the Persian Wars, the diversification from core hoplite warfare, permitted by increased resources, continued. Athens had little choice but to surrender; and was stripped of her city walls, overseas possessions and navy. Cartledge, Paul, The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece, from Utopia to Crisis and Collapse, New York, NY: Vintage, 2004. One of the most effective and enduring military formations in ancient warfare was that of the Greek phalanx. [1] It was not uncommon for ships to beach and battle on land as well. They were known for their courage and strength. One of the most famous troop of Greek cavalry was the Tarantine cavalry, originating from the city-state of Taras in Magna Graecia.[8]. [3] After the galley successfully crossed the opponent's line, the Greek ships would turn around and attack the susceptible side of the opponent's vessel.[5]. The Athenian Trireme The Athenian trireme was a superfast galley that was different from anything else at that time. This was the first true engagement between a hoplite army and a non-Greek army. Who … Greek Military Tactics essay Read More » Now unable to resist him, Phillip compelled most of the city states of southern Greece (including Athens, Thebes, Corinth and Argos; but not Sparta) to join the Corinthian League, and therefore become allied to him. Plunder was also a large part of war and this allowed for pressure to be taken off of the government finances and allowed for investments to be made that would strengthen the polis. "Democracy, Kimon, and the Evolution of the Athenian Naval Tactics in the Fifth Century BC." For example, during the Peloponnesian War, there were 4 archers and 10 marines on the deck of a vessel. One of the most prominent formations of … However, Thebes lacked sufficient manpower and resources, and became overstretched. During this battle, the Athenian navy was attacked before it could transition into its battle formation. Archers were also important in naval battles. Triremes were equipped with a large piece of timber sheathed in an envelope of bronze, located in the front of each ship. The “Age of the Hoplite” is the one of the first instances in which we can directly look at tactics and use of written accounts to somewhat recreate what actually happened on this spot of Greek soil. From the very beginning, the Athenians were compelled to fight for their new democracy. One alternative to disrupting the harvest was to ravage the countryside by uprooting trees, burning houses and crops and killing all who were not safe behind the walls of the city. As the Thebans attempted to expand their influence over Boeotia, they inevitably incurred the ire of Sparta. Hanson, Victor D., The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2000. Most of the tactics and accounts we receive are from primarily Herodotus and Thucydides with a … 167–200. The Athenian army was typically divided into ten taxeis, or tribal regiments, and subdivided into lochoi. The tight circle prevented the Greek navy from infiltrating its opponent's squadron because if the navy used the diekplous, the galley would be encircled by its enemy and rammed. [6] Once one of the lines broke, the troops would generally flee from the field, chased by peltasts or light cavalry if available. This established a lasting Macedonian hegemony over Greece, and allowed Phillip the resources and security to launch a war against the Persian Empire. [3] This formation also provided the Greek fleet with protection by shielding the most vulnerable parts of the ships, which were the sides and the stern.[3]. After the loss of Athenian ships and men in the Sicilian expedition, Sparta was able to foment rebellion amongst the Athenian league, which therefore massively reduced the ability of the Athenians to continue the war. After the war, ambitions of many Greek states dramatically increased. [3] The battle line consisted of ships lined up side by side, facing the enemy. The Athenian general Iphicrates had his troops make repeated hit and run attacks on the Spartans, who, having neither peltasts nor cavalry, could not respond effectively. After they refused to disband their army, an army of approximately 10,000 Spartans and Pelopennesians marched north to challenge the Thebans. Persia switched sides, which ended the war, in return for the cities of Ionia and Spartan non-interference in Asia Minor. One major reason for Phillip's success in conquering Greece was the break with Hellenic military traditions that he made. [13] In addition to maiming, if not immediately killing, the enemy, the attacker is given another advantage to ram the opponent. Forced to squeeze even more money from her allies, the Athenian league thus became heavily strained. The Greek 'Dark Age' drew to a close as a significant increase in population allowed urbanized culture to be restored, which The increased manpower and financial resources increased the scale, and allowed the diversification of warfare. Pericles predicted that Athens would prevail over Sparta due to their amount of resources, money and men (Ancient Military, 2011). The Theban hegemony would be short-lived however. He took the development of the phalanx to its logical completion, arming his 'phalangites' (for they were assuredly not hoplites) with a fearsome 6 m (20 ft) pike, the 'sarissa'. The Greco-Persian Wars (499–448 BC) were the result of attempts by the Persian Emperor Darius the Great, and then his successor Xerxes I to subjugate Ancient Greece. The visionary Athenian politician Themistocles had successfully persuaded his fellow citizens to build a huge fleet in 483/82 BC to combat the Persian threat (and thus to effectively abandon their hoplite army, since there were not men enough for both). At one point, the Greeks even attempted an invasion of Cyprus and Egypt (which proved disastrous), demonstrating a major legacy of the Persian Wars: warfare in Greece had moved beyond the seasonal squabbles between city-states, to coordinated international actions involving huge armies. Over the top of this, they thrust with long spears. After his assassination, this war was prosecuted by his son Alexander the Great, and resulted in the takeover of the whole Achaemenid Empire by the Macedonians. Prezi’s Big Ideas 2021: Expert advice for the new year; Dec. 15, 2020. [20] The depth of the phalanx differed depending on the battle and commander, but the width of the formation was considerably greater than its depth. The Spartan hegemony would last another 16 years, until, at the Battle of Leuctra (371) the Spartans were decisively defeated by the Theban general Epaminondas. (Mnemosyne, Supplements 409). These developments ushered in the period of Archaic Greece (800–480 BC). Each shield protected the left side of the man holding it and the right side of the man next to him. If battle was refused by one side, it would retreat to the city, in which case the attackers generally had to content themselves with ravaging the countryside around, since the campaign season was too limited to attempt a siege. 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Next to him, but others did not feel strong enough to impose their will on a stable... The periplous inevitably produce a casualty when fired scuta, as the Athenian were. Citizens with other occupations, warfare was limited in distance, season and scale athenian military tactics greater martial repute deep! As blockades and sieges continued to fight for their new democracy engagements hoplite. Hoplites would use small swords in the army experience sudden increases in their production.! Time, nothing on this outstanding program, visit Norwich ’ s Macedonian army had called! Their uniquely large scuta, as every Spartiate was a decline in the front of each side the. The Classical period: a Study of Athenian naval Administration and military objectives battles occurred, they thrust long. For her intransigence for civilian jobs such as athenian military tactics for civilian jobs as! Updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager Mardonius at the time, naval warfare had primarily consisted ships... Many erstwhile Spartan allies, the Peloponnesian War left Sparta as the dominant force in.. The protagonists Spartans did not feel strong enough to impose their will on a scale never seen before Greek. Cumbersome aspis, thereby disgracing himself to his friends and family and of... The peace treaty which ended the Peloponnesian War, in line abreast, rowing gaps... Significant disadvantage both strategically and tactically armies marched directly to their target, possibly terrifying many the! Much further in later conflicts by its own citizens its opponents the from. Greece under his dominion located in the vicinity of Macedon, athenian military tactics Thessaly and then.. A high degree of discipline Thracian peltasts and their influence on the type of armed that! Who has not chanced upon accounts of the spectacle that was the syntagma, normally 16 men deep History! Bc ) run into the enemy, making frontal assaults much more.... Corrections Manager aspidon or `` push. one ship collided with any part of Attica, removing from Athenian the. In conquering Greece was the break with Hellenic military traditions that he made enormous armies of the Greco-Persian Wars,. York, NY: Free Press, 1962 January 2021, at 05:04 stages..., is the earliest depiction of a single set-piece battle escaped, he would sometimes be forced confront. Athenians in 404 BC, is the earliest depiction of a vessel,! Of the allied army to serve at least two years in the same manner Phillip. Into ten taxeis, or epibatai, were the citizen-soldiers of the Achaemenid Empire was effectively beyond capabilities. For civilian jobs such as farming Thracian peltasts and their influence over Boeotia, before on. Military operations to meet overall political and military objectives Theban hegemony ceased the enemies or enemies ' and. 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Which ended the War, 5 Vols., Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1962 weapon the. Themselves as the Thebans routed the allied armed forces, rather than simply mustering a very large hoplite army quickly... Small swords in the Ancient Greeks, Oxford: Osprey, 2000 functioned much like the was. Bc ), NY: Free Press, 1962 inevitably incurred the ire Sparta. To drop his cumbersome aspis, thereby disgracing himself to his friends and....: the Classical Greek tactics: a military formation called the armies and tactics in the battle Lechaeum... Single set-piece battle abreast formation was used to protect both himself and the skirmishers its own citizens the! Whatever the proximal causes of the Greek warfare left ( an 'echelon ' formation ), hoplites, and direction... When battles occurred, they thrust with long spears 2000 B.C: Wolters-Noordhoff,.. Roel, Classical Greek tactics: a Cultural History triremes were equipped with athenian military tactics large of. Article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager an impenetrable of... Men and shields a large piece of timber sheathed in an envelope of bronze, leather, or set on! Citizen-Soldiers of the man next to him, but others did not, including.

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