how athens military tactics changed over th course of 5th -6th century

by Desmond Parisian 6 min read

How did Athens keep up with the size of its military?

Feb 28, 2022 · February 28, 2022 Alexandra. An ancient treaty between Athens and Sparta dated 446/445 BCE describes the Thirty Years’ Peace. During the Fourth Peloponnesian War, known commonly as the First Peloponnesian War, the first two decades of the First World War were fought between the Allies of the Kingdom of Crete and the Greeks of the Sea. 460 BCE.

Did Athens have a better war machine than Sparta?

Athens had greatly increased its own power; a number of its formerly independent allies were reduced, over the course of the century, to the status of tribute-paying subject states of the Delian League. This tribute was used to fund a powerful fleet and, after the middle of the century, massive public works in Athens, causing resentment.

How did Athens fight in the Greco Persian War?

The 5th-century theater had been constructed unnecessarily high on the slope of the hill in order to secure the view of the ocean behind the speaker. The sea was the wellspring of Athenian military and economic fortune, and the source of her pride in legend and history.

How did Athens gain control of Greece?

Discussion 1.docx - How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community? Who. ... School University of the People; Course Title CS 2204; Uploaded By Mykemoa. Pages 2 Ratings 100% (1) 1 out of 1 people found this document helpful; This preview shows page 1 - 2 out of 2 ...

What was the Athenian military strategy?

Initially Athens' strategy, as guided by Pericles, was to avoid open battle with the more numerous, and better trained Spartan hoplites, and to instead rely on Athens' superior fleet. As a result, Athens' fleet went on the offensive, winning a victory at Naupactus.

Did Athens have strong military?

During the Greco-Persian Wars, Athens developed a large, powerful navy in the eastern Mediterranean Sea that defeated the even larger Persian Navy at the Battle of Salamis. The Athenian Navy consisted of 80,000 crewing 400 ships.

What military strategies were used in the Peloponnesian war?

According to Thucydides, Athenian military activity in the Archidamian War was dominated by the so-called Periklean strategy, that is, a long-term, coherent plan of ceding the Attic countryside to the Spartans, avoiding pitched battle, using naval superiority to harass the Spartans and their allies, taking advantage of ...

What was the major difference between Athens military and Sparta's military?

Sparta had a powerful army and Athens knew that they could not beat them but they had the power of a naval unit which Sparta didn't have. What the two communities had in common was that they were both thinkers.

Why was the military important in Athens?

From the very beginning, the Athenians were compelled to fight for their new democracy. Their dramatic victories over the Boiotians and Chalkidians in 506 B.C. led many to attribute Athenian military success to their political system.

Did Athens focus on military training?

Unlike Spartan men, Athenian men didn't have to devote their whole lives to the army. All men in Athens joined the army, but for only two years. They helped defend the city between the ages of 18 and 20.

How did Sparta and Athens war strategies differ?

Instead, this article views the war as a contest between two opposing grand strategic designs. In contrast to the Athenian grand strategy of exhaustion, based on Athens's economic power, Sparta followed a grand strategy of annihilation centered around Spartan military might.Jun 18, 2010

What different plans did Athens and Sparta develop to win the Peloponnesian War?

What different plans did Athens and Sparta develop to win the Peloponnesian War? Athens used more warriors; Sparta used better technology. Athens had more food; Sparta had more weapons. Athens relied on siege tactics; Sparta relied on alliances.

What advantage did Athens have during the Peloponnesian War Brainly?

What advantage did Athens have during the Peloponnesian War? - Athens had extensive farmland to feed its people.

Why is Sparta military better than Athens?

Sparta is far superior to Athens because their army was fierce and protective, girls received some education and women had more freedom than in other poleis. First, the army of Sparta was the strongest fighting force in Greece.

What were the major differences between how Athens developed as a city state versus how Sparta developed?

The two city-states that best represent each form of government were Sparta (oligarchy) and Athens (democracy). Athens focused more on culture, while Sparta focused more on war. The oligarchy structure in Sparta enabled it to keep war as a top priority.

How were the Athens and Sparta different?

The main difference between Athens and Sparta is that Athens had a formal democratic arrangement and rooted in the philosophy of arts and learning, whereas Sparta had an organisation where a small group of people had control of the region with a military mindset.

Who destroyed the walls of Athens?

The Spartan general Lysander has the walls of Athens demolished in 404 BC, as a result of the Athenian defeat in the Peloponnesian War. The faction hostile to Alcibiades triumphed in Athens following a minor Spartan victory by their skillful general Lysander at the naval battle of Notium in 406 BC.

Which two powers were unable to fight?

Athens maintained its empire through naval power. Thus, the two powers were relatively unable to fight decisive battles .

What did the Lacedaemonians do to help Sicily?

The Lacedaemonians were not content with simply sending aid to Sicily; they also resolved to take the war to the Athenians. On the advice of Alcibiades, they fortified Decelea, near Athens, and prevented the Athenians from making use of their land year round. The fortification of Decelea prevented the shipment of supplies overland to Athens, and forced all supplies to be brought in by sea at increased expense. Perhaps worst of all, the nearby silver mines were totally disrupted, with as many as 20,000 Athenian slaves freed by the Spartan hoplites at Decelea. With the treasury and emergency reserve fund of 1,000 talents dwindling away, the Athenians were forced to demand even more tribute from her subject allies, further increasing tensions and the threat of further rebellion within the Empire.

How long did the Peace of Nicias last?

With the death of Cleon and Brasidas, zealous war hawks for both nations, the Peace of Nicias was able to last for some six years. However, it was a time of constant skirmishing in and around the Peloponnese. While the Spartans refrained from action themselves, some of their allies began to talk of revolt.

When did the Peloponnesian War start?

For the book by the Greek historian Thucydides, see History of the Peloponnesian War. The Peloponnesian war alliances at 431 BC. Orange: Athenian Empire and Allies; Green: Spartan Confederacy.

Who led the Peloponnesian war?

Aegospotami. The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) was an ancient Greek war fought between the Delian League, led by Athens, and the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases.

Who was the ruler of the Achaemenid Empire?

From 414 BC, Darius II, ruler of the Achaemenid Empire had started to resent increasing Athenian power in the Aegean and had his satrap Tissaphernes enter into an alliance with Sparta against Athens, which in 412 BC led to the Persian reconquest of the greater part of Ionia. Tissaphernes also helped fund the Peloponnesian fleet.

Why was conscription important in the Industrial Age?

Conscription was employed in industrial warfare to increase the number of military personnel that were available for combat. Conscription was notably used by Napoleon Bonaparte and the major parties during the two World Wars.

What was the military revolution?

The Military Revolution is a conceptual schema for explaining the transformation of European military strategy, tactics and technology in the early modern period. The argument is the dramatic advances in technology, government finance, and public administration transformed and modernized European armies, tactics, and logistics. Since warfare was so central to the European state, the transformation at a major impact on modernizing government bureaucracies, taxation, and the national economy. The concept was introduced by Michael Roberts in the 1950s as he focused on Sweden 1560–1660. Roberts emphasized the introduction of muskets that could not be aimed at small targets, but could be very effective when fired in volleys by three ranks of infantry soldiers, with one firing while the other two ranks reloaded. All three ranks march forward to demolish the enemy. The infantry now had the firepower that had been reserved to the artillery, and had mobility that could rapidly advance in the battlefield, which the artillery lacked. The infantry thereby surpassed the artillery in tactical maneuvering on the battlefield. Roberts linked these advances with larger historical consequences, arguing that innovations in tactics, drill and doctrine by the Dutch and Swedes 1560–1660 led to a need for more and better trained troops and thus for permanent forces (standing armies). Armies grew much larger and more expensive. These changes in turn had major political consequences in the level of administrative support and the supply of money, men and provisions, producing new financial demands and the creation of new governmental institutions. "Thus, argued Roberts, the modern art of war made possible—and necessary—the creation of the modern state". In the 1990s the concept was modified and extended by Geoffrey Parker, who argued that developments in fortification and siege warfare caused the revolution. The concept of a military revolution based upon technology has given way to models based more on a slow evolution in which technology plays a minor role to organization, command and control, logistics and in general non-material improvements. The revolutionary nature of these changes was only visible after a long evolution that handed Europe a predominant place in warfare, a place that the industrial revolution would confirm.

What are the different types of military units?

Some of the military unit types and technologies which were developed in the ancient world are: 1 Slinger 2 Hoplite 3 Auxiliaries 4 Infantry 5 Archery 6 Chariots 7 Cavalry

What is the purpose of historiography in military history?

Historiography is the study of the history and method of the discipline of history or the study of a specialised topic. In this case, military history with an eye to gaining an accurate assessment of conflicts using all available sources. For this reason military history is periodised, creating overlaying boundaries of study and analysis in which descriptions of battles by leaders may be unreliable due to the inclination to minimize mention of failure and exaggerate success. Military historians use Historiographical analysis in an effort to allow an unbiased, contemporary view of records.

Who is the father of military history?

Other prominent records in military history are the Trojan War in Homer 's Iliad (though its historicity has been challenged), The Histories by Herodotus (484 BC – 425 BC) who is often called the "father of history". Next was Thucydides whose impartiality, despite being an Athenian, allowed him to take advantage of his exile to research the war from different perspectives by carefully examining documents and interviewing eyewitnesses. An approach centered on the analysis of a leader was taken by Xenophon (430 BC – 355 BC) in Anabasis, recording the expedition of Cyrus the Younger into Anatolia .

What was the war based on?

Since the 1940s, preparation for a major war has been based on technological arms races involving all sorts of new weapons systems, such as nuclear and biological, as well as computerized control systems, and the opening of new venues, such as seen in the Space race involving the United States, the Soviet Union, and more recently, China.

When did the chariots start?

Chariots originated around 2000 BC. The chariot was an effective, fast weapon; while one man controlled the maneuvering of the chariot, a second bowman could shoot arrows at enemy soldiers. These became crucial to the maintenance of several governments, including the New Egyptian Kingdom and the Shang dynasty and the nation states of the early to middle Zhou dynasty.

What were some examples of Scythian tactics?

Scythian tactics included feinting or withdrawing from either the battlefield or even the region. An example of feinting comes from a battle mentioned in Part I ( Scythian Tactics and Strategy: Blah - Part I ), the battle of Carrhae in 53 BCE.

What was the strategy used to defeat the Persians?

The strategy would be defense in depth, scorched earth policy the tactic, and the outcome would be starvation. Starvation through burning was the preferred method used to rid of the Persians. The Scythians understood that they could defeat the enemy by allowing the land to swallow them both physically and mentally.

What was the Battle of Carrhae?

The Battle of Carrhae was death by pieces for the Romans. Weapons and tactics change, but PTSD goes back millennia. Superweapon of the Ancient World: A History of Chariots - Part I. The Devastating and Diabolical Ancient Origins of Biological Warfare.

What was the ancient Scythians known for?

The ancient Scythians were renowned for their horsemanship and prowess in battle. What was the secret behind these nomadic peoples who were so dangerous and successful? Ancient Origins guest author Cam Rea reveals the strategies behind the Scythian victories.

Who is Cam Rea?

Cam Rea is a Military Historian and currently the Associate Editor/Writer at Strategy & Tactics Press. Mr. Rea has published several books and written numerous articles for Strategy & Tactics Press and Classical Wisdom Weekly. His most current publication is...

What happened in the year 49 B.C.?

January 10, 49 B.C.: Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River into Rome, igniting a civil war that leads to the birth of the world's greatest ancient civilization. October 12, 1492: The Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, weary after months at sea, finally drops anchor at the island of San Salvador and...

What are the concepts of Hammurabi's code of law?

With its concepts of minimum wage, family law, and victims’ rights, the code provided many fundamental elements that can still be found in today’s legal systems.

Where did Muhammad move to?

11 Muhammad Moves to Medina —The Hegira (A.D. 622) Islam is one of the world’s great monotheistic faiths, and in today’s world, is sometimes misunderstood. The spread of Islam around the world began in A.D. 622 with Muhammad’s flight into the city of Medina .

When did Columbus discover the New World?

Learn how Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the New World in October of 1492 set the stage for much of modern Western history. The story behind this iconic expedition—from the earliest attempts to gain political support to the last days of the explorer’s life—is one of high adventure.

When did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany?

30 Hitler Becomes Chancellor of Germany (1933) Professor Fears’s theme in this lecture is Adolph Hitler’s inauguration as chancellor of Germany on January 30 , 1933. Once in power, this political leader would unleash both World War II and the Holocaust.

When was the first atomic bomb dropped?

32 The Atomic Bomb Is Dropped (1945) Visit the birth of the Atomic Age with the explosion of the first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. It was a terrifying moment in world history that had an untold impact on the future of warfare, science, and geopolitics.

When was Bologna founded?

12 Bologna Gets a University (1088) Before Cambridge and Oxford, there was the University of Bologna, founded in Italy in 1088.

What is the survey of the basic principles and problems of strategy, tactics, and military organization from Alexander the Great to the

Survey of the basic principles and problems of strategy, tactics, and military organization from Alexander the Great to the present . Special attention will be given to the operation of these factors in the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, and World War II. (Typically offered: Irregular)

How many hours of African history credit is required?

(Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

What is the oldest beverage?

Beer is among the oldest beverages devised by humankind. The course adopts a global perspective to trace the history of beer and brewing in their broader social contexts from antiquity to the present-day. (Typically offered: Spring)

What is a survey of the interrelationship between human and nonhuman animals in comparative historical settings?

The course is interdisciplinary by design and draws from social history, cultural studies, religious history, literature, film, and visual culture to gain a deeper sense of how animals have been integral to human societies. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring)

How many hours of work experience is required for a historical agency?

Paper required. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

What is the history of the Caribbean?

History of the Caribbean from pre-Columbian to present times focusing in particular on indigenous origins, colonialism, slavery, rebellion, independence, nationalism, and political integration in the making of the modern Caribbean region. (Typically offered: Fall)#N#This course is cross-listed with AAST 3193.

How many hours of history credit is required for a history degree?

(Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

Advantages in The Spartan Hoplite Approach to Warfare

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Classical Greeks fought in a dense linear formation or phalanx as armored spearmen known as hoplites. These hoplites were protected from their ankles up by greaves, cuirass, shield, and helmet as they stood close alongside each other in ranks that could be many hundreds of men wide. This allowed them to present a …
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Athens as A Military Power

  • Regard for classical Athenians as fighters in general has lagged behind their fame as creators of democracy and masters of aesthetic culture. From antiquity to the present, the Spartans have had far greater martial repute. Yet Athens in its fifth century bc heyday not only fought more than three times as many battles as Sparta, but actually enjoyed a slightly higher overall rate of combat suc…
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First Battle of Tanagra

  • Only three large battles in the fifth century bc saw Spartans and Athenians on opposing sides. The first occurred in 457 bc, when Sparta’s Nicomedes led an army of his countrymen and allies into Boeotia in a powerful demonstration meant to discourage Athenian aggression against Thebes, a Spartan ally. Athens responded in kind, and an engagement (Tanagra I) took place that involved …
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First Battle of Mantinea

  • It would be nearly two generations before Sparta and Athens would again meet in a grand clash. This came about in 418 bc at Mantinea I, where Argos sought to contest local Spartan dominance with help from the Athenians and other allies. After several false starts, the two sides finally came to blows with over 17,000 hoplites. Spartan King Agis opened the action with a bungled maneuv…
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Battle of Halae Marsh

  • The last large engagement between the two dominant city-states came when the Spartans ousted the democratic regime at Athens after the Peloponnesian War and set up an oligarchy to run the city, supporting it with mercenaries and a few of their own hoplites. In 403 bc, Spartan King Pausanius reacted to growing Athenian opposition by leading a surge of fresh troops into the cit…
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Two Unique City-States, Two Unique Ways of War

  • Accounts of actual combat between Sparta and Athens at their height make it clear that each had a fair share of success against the other. The Athenians used their expertise at surprise mobilization, amphibious operations, and light-armed warfare (both mounted and afoot) to achieve a greater number of victories. But Sparta’s hoplites plied their own deadly skills to win e…
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