Description
The origin of the Western military tradition in Greece 750-362 BC is fraught with controversies, such as the date and nature of the phalanx, the role of agricultural destruction and the existence of rules and ritualistic practices. This volume collects papers significant for specific points in debates or theoretical value in shaping and critiquing controversial viewpoints. An introduction offers a critical analysis of recent trends in ancient military history and provides a bibliographical essay contextualizing the papers within the framework of debates with a guide to further reading.
Table of Contents
Contents: Series preface; Introduction; Part I Archaic Warfare: 750-500 BC: The 'hoplite reform' revisited, A.M. Snodgrass; Ephorus and the prohibition of missiles, Everett L. Wheeler; The Zulus and the Spartans: a comparison of their military systems, W.S. Ferguson; Early Greek land warfare as symbolic expression, W.R. Connor; Fighting by the rules: the invention of the hoplite agôn, Peter Krentz. Part II Religious, Social, Economic and Legal Aspects: Religious scruples in ancient warfare, M.D. Goodman and A.J. Holladay; The hoplite as citizen: Athenian military institutions in their social context, Ronald T. Ridley; Warfare and agriculture: the economic impact of devastation in classical Greece, James A. Thorne; Akeryktos Polemos (Herodotus V.81), J.L. Myres; Crossing Greek frontiers under arms, D.J. Mosley. Part III Classical Hoplite Battle: The general as hoplite, Everett L. Wheeler; Klope polemou: 'theft' in ancient Greek warfare, David Whitehead; On the possibility of reconstructing Marathon and other ancient battles, N. Whatley; Othismos: the importance of the mass-shove in hoplite warfare, Robert D. Luginbill; Hector's body: mutilation of the dead in ancient Greece and Vietnam, Lawrence A. Tritle; Casualties in hoplite battles, Peter Krentz. Part IV Peloponnesian War: 431-404 BC: Perikles and the defence of Attika during the Peloponnesian War, I.G. Spence; The progress of Epiteichismos, H.D. Westlake; Thucydides and Spartan strategy in the Archidamian war, Thomas Kelly; Brasidas - great commander or whiz kid? Graham Wylie. Part V Age of Xenophon and Epaminondas: 400-362 BC: Xenophon's theory of leadership, Neal Wood; Identity and community among Greek mercenaries in the classical world, Matthew F. Trundle; On the origin of scythed chariots, Alexander K. Nefiodkin; Epameinondas, The Battle of Leuktra (371 BC) and the 'revolution' in Greek battle tactics, Victor Hanson; Name index.
