Athenian Hoplite vs Spartan Hoplite: Peloponnesian War 431–404 BC (Combat Book 53)

Featuring full- color artwork and drawing upon an array of sources, this is the story of the clash between Athenian and Spartan hoplites during the Peloponnesian War. The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), waged between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies, involved some of the most important developments in ancient warfare. A life-and-death struggle between the two most powerful Greek city-states in the wake of their combined successes against the Persian invasion of Xerxes in 480–479 BC, the conflict dragged in communities from all over the Greek world on one side or the other. Ranging from the Black Sea to Sicily, the war saw the first recorded widespread use of light-armed troops, reserves, the deep phalanx, and other ideas important for the development of Western warfare into the 4th century BC, such as strategic thinking. It also revealed lessons (some learned and some not) with respect to the strengths and weaknesses of hoplite warfare and the various states in Greece. Featuring full-color artwork and drawing upon an array of sources, this study of three pivotal clashes between Spartan and Athenian hoplite forces during the Peloponnesian War highlights all of these developments and lessons. The seeds of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 bc), fought between thecity-states of Sparta and Athens and their respective allies, were sown some50 years earlier through the successes of the Greek states in defeating thesecond Persian invasion of Greece (480–479 bc). Eleven years previously,at the culmination of the first Persian invasion of Greece (490 bc), Athensstood alone at the battle of Marathon; this unexpected Athenian victoryencouraged the city-state to see itself as Sparta’s equal. Sparta had alwaysbeen considered to be the ‘natural’ leader of Greece because of its uniquepolitical system which meant Spartan citizens trained in warfare full time.Other Greek city-states had citizen soldiers with minimal training whowere called out as needed. Cover Introduction Contents The Opposing Sides Equipment And Tactics Recruitment, Training And Motivation Organization And Command Manpower Sphacteria: 425 BC Amphipolis: 422 BC Mantinea: 418 BC Analysis Athenian Effectiveness Spartan Effectiveness Aftermath Bibliography Index Imprint