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12 - War

from Part II - The Hellenistic World and the Roman Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2008

Jonathan Roth
Affiliation:
Professor of History, San José State University
Philip Sabin
Affiliation:
King's College London
Hans van Wees
Affiliation:
University College London
Michael Whitby
Affiliation:
University of Warwick
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Summary

introduction

In the first half of the fourth century a number of factors coincided to foster revolutionary change in military practice. These included a move to a new and bolder type of strategy, innovations in equipment and tactics, the increasing use of mercenaries, a heightened sense of military professionalism, improvement in methods of fortification, experimentation in innovative weapons (such as torsion artillery) and the development of military training manuals. Some of these innovations were developed within Greece: for example, a general lightening of equipment, the deepening of phalanxes, and the use of combined arms. Others were borrowed, as the Greeks came into contact with various other styles of fighting: the pelta or crescent shield was borrowed from the Thracians and the long spear for light infantry (apparently) brought back from Egypt by Iphicrates. The expanding boundaries of the oikoumenê in the latter fourth and third centuries both spread Greek innovations to other peoples – such as the Romans – and brought the Greeks new military techniques and practices. Contact with the Celts promoted increased use of the sword and, possibly, a new type of saddle. The Parthians contributed armoured cavalry and the Indians battle elephants.

The role of the Carthaginians in the military developments of the fourth century has generally been undervalued. During a century-long struggle over control of Sicily, the Phoenicians of north Africa certainly influenced Greek development of siege equipment and quite possibly the use of relays in attacks on city walls. Punic armies were remarkably large for the period, ranging up to 70,000 men, with the sort of combined force – heavy and light infantry and cavalry – that is associated with later Hellenistic warfare.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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  • War
  • Edited by Philip Sabin, King's College London, Hans van Wees, University College London, Michael Whitby, University of Warwick
  • Book: The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521782739.013
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  • War
  • Edited by Philip Sabin, King's College London, Hans van Wees, University College London, Michael Whitby, University of Warwick
  • Book: The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521782739.013
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • War
  • Edited by Philip Sabin, King's College London, Hans van Wees, University College London, Michael Whitby, University of Warwick
  • Book: The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521782739.013
Available formats
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