The Hoplite Revolution and Greek Warfare

A detailed Summary of The Hoplite Revolution and Greek Warfare


One of the social issues around 356 BC- 400 BC was warfare in Ancient Greece. For the Greeks war was more than tactics, strategy and blood; it was linked to almost every aspect other social organization. Greeks warfare displayed the honesty of two armies facing each other head on in broad daylight. The soldiers were called hoplites. The heavily armed hoplite of the fighting unit wore bronze armor on his shins and chest and a bronze helmet slit with a narrow opening for eyes and mouth. He carried a heavy wooden shield in his left hand. His weapon a pike; a heavy wooden, iron tipped thrusting spear at least 9 feet long; and a short, iron stabbing sword. A hoplite's panoply weight range from fifty to seventy pounds. The solid bronze helmet that the average hoplite wore weighed approximately five pounds and covered the head and parts of the face and neck. The solid headpieces also provided no ventilation, often times leading to dehydration.

The men in the phalanx were lined up in rows; usually four to eight rows deep. The phalanx was positioned usually near a mountain. If there were no mountain they would usually be lined up between two rivers. The phalanx formation called for each man to trust his neighboring inf


The polis was a warrior society. In order a war to occur there had to be provocation, an insult to the people or a person. If you were insulted in any way, you would go to the oracle and ask him for advice. You would ask him if you should go to war or not. After you talked to the oracle every citizen would meet at the assembly to make the final decision on going to war or not. If they decided that they would go, they would elect the general. Everytime a decision is made, a sacrifice to the gods has to be made. Killing a goat is a sacrifice. Every hoplite gets ready for the war. They must bring their own equipment, food and supplies for five days. A negotiation between both sides is made about the time and place the battle is going to occur. That is usually decided in advance. The negotiation could take place any time during mid-May to June. This was the time of war. The fight of the battle usually took about 30 minutes. If you were loosing you would turn back and give up. After the battle the winners would burry their dead people. They would take the equipment off from the dead people of the enemy and that would be their trophy. But most important is, after the battle both sides would make truce. The looser of the battle would ask the winner if they are allowed to move their dead

Some common words found in the essay are:
Greece Greeks, Sparten Generals, , dead people, heavy wooden, left hand, shield left hand, experience placed, battle battle, battle truce, battle winner, bronze helmet, shield left,

Approximate Word count = 880
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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