The Greek Phalanx and the Hoplite

Chigi Vase, 650 BCE

Corinthian style helmet

A Hoplite’s Equipment

Bronze Greaves

Dory, with lizard-killer

Hoplon

Bronze Breastplate or Heavy Linen Tunic called Linothorax

Weaknesses of the Phallanx

• Vulnerable right side• Did not turn left or right very well• Did not work on rugged terrain• Long battles resulted in front line’s suffocation

Improvements: Flanking Marathon, 490BC

General Miltiades and the Greeks, including the 10,000 Athenians

Persians and King Darius

Improvements under Macedonians

• Light infantry: archers and spearmen• Cavalry• Larger Phallanx: 16x16

Peloponnesian War 431-404 BCE

Alcibiades

A new General wins Peace of Nicias 421BC with Sparta!

End of Peace: Battle of Mantinea, 418BCE

Peloponnesian LeagueSpartans and Tegeans

Delian LeagueAthenians, Argives and Mantineans

Versus

Thucydides on the Democratic Allies

“The armies being now on the eve of engaging, each contingent received some words of encouragement from its own commander. The Mantineans were reminded that they were going to fight for their country and to avoid returning to the experience of servitude [under Sparta] after having tasted that of empire; the Argives [men of Argos], that they would contend for their ancient supremacy, to regain their once equal share of Peloponnese of which they had been so long deprived, and to punish an enemy and a neighbor for a thousand wrongs; the Athenians, of the glory of gaining the honors of the day with so many and brave allies in arms, and that a victory over the Spartans in Peloponnese would cement and extend their empire, and would besides preserve Attica from all invasions in future.”

Alcibiades, the Syracuse Expedition and Betrayal

So why did Athens lose this 27 year war?2 key events:

• Plague hits Athens behind its Long Walls• Athenian raid on Syracuse a disaster• Alcibiades betrayal

What are the consequences?• Athens had to tear down its Long Walls• Spartans instituted an oligarchic govt.• Athens’ power and spirit were severely diminished• The war spurred a questioning attitude about

government, morality and life….• Socrates would be executed as Alc.’s friend