HI123 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Agoge, Helots, Corinthian Helmet
The Greek Defenders
•
Greeks were led by Leonidas
•
Over 1000 city-states in Ancient Greece
○
Each one is very independent
•
Greeks were never united
○
The only things they had in common were language and religion
•
Sparta had the strong military, Athens had a strong navy and high
population
•
Hoplites: soldiers that had circular shield 3ft in diameter, concave, and
full body armour (a Corinthian helmet) very uncomfortable, but
protective, the chest plate (bell cuiras) weighed about 30 pounds, main
weapon was a spear 6-8 feet long and a short sword
•
Fought in phalanx formation; shoulder to shoulder, at least 8 rows deep
○
First 3 rows would do most of the killing, the last 5 held their spears
in the air
•
Used the hoplon (shield) to form a shield wall
•
4 characteristics of Greek Warfare
1.
Simple and straightforward
§
Spears were seen as a natural extension of the arm
§
All males were required to fight
2.
Was deadly and terrifying
§
Would charge at each other
§
Othismas 'push' happened when 2 phalanxes were locked in
combat, the front would attack and the back would push them
forward
3.
Very physically demanding
§
Challenging in the Greek heat and weight
§
'syn tai e epi tai' come back with your shield or on it
4.
Sought to be decisive
§
Wanted battle to be over quick
Sparta
• Was a unique society; organized for war
• Agoge: state run educational system
• At the age of 7, they leave their homes and are put in public barracks
schools
• At 20 they're considered men, left the barracks, and joined messes
• At 30 Spartan men can rejoin their family
○Could be required to be in military until 60
• Boys had a restricted diet, they could steal but they couldn't get caught
• They were the only professional soldiers in all of Greece
○Could do this because they had Helots (servants/ farmers of Sparta)
○Pereioci - craftsmen who lived around Sparta
Persians
• Worlds greatest superpower, 1st global power
• Why Persia was so successful
1. Developed a sophisticated beurocracy
§Had approx 30 provinces
2. Ruled with high tolerance
§As long as they provided the king with manpower and respect,
they were left alone
3. Military strength
§Largest, strongest army ever
§Most infantry were archers, and their most feared was its
cavalry
• Had resources to mobilized a huge army, and the logistical know how to
bring it long distances
• The worlds first intelligence service, usually had thorough knowledge of
'enemies' strengths and weaknesses
• Persian weaknesses lined up with Greek strengths
Battle of Thermopylae
Monday, July 2, 2018
10:06 AM
Document Summary
The greek defenders: greeks were led by leonidas, over 1000 city-states in ancient greece. Each one is very independent: greeks were never united. First 3 rows would do most of the killing, the last 5 held their spears in the air: used the hoplon (shield) to form a shield wall, 4 characteristics of greek warfare, simple and straightforward. Spears were seen as a natural extension of the arm. All males were required to fight: was deadly and terrifying. Othismas "push" happened when 2 phalanxes were locked in combat, the front would attack and the back would push them forward: very physically demanding. Challenging in the greek heat and weight. "syn tai e epi tai" come back with your shield or on it: sought to be decisive. Could be required to be in military until 60: boys had a restricted diet, they could steal but they couldn"t get caught, they were the only professional soldiers in all of greece.
