Men of Bronze : Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece

A major contribution to the debate over ancient Greek warfare by some of the world's leading scholarsMen of Bronze takes up one of the most important and fiercely debated subjects in ancient history and classics: how did archaic Greek hoplites fight, and what role, if any, did hoplite warfare play in shaping the Greek polis? In the nineteenth century, George Grote argued that the phalanx battle formation of the hoplite farmer citizen-soldier was the driving force behind a revolution in Greek social, political, and cultural institutions. Throughout the twentieth century scholars developed and refined this grand hoplite narrative with the help of archaeology. But over the past thirty years scholars have criticized nearly every major tenet of this orthodoxy. Indeed, the revisionists have persuaded many specialists that the evidence demands a new interpretation of the hoplite narrative and a rewriting of early Greek history. Men of Bronze gathers leading scholars to advance the current debate and bring it to a broader audience of ancient historians, classicists, archaeologists, and general readers.After explaining the historical context and significance of the hoplite question, the book assesses and pushes forward the debate over the traditional hoplite narrative and demonstrates why it is at a crucial turning point. Instead of reaching a consensus, the contributors have sharpened their differences, providing new evidence, explanations, and theories about the origin, nature, strategy, and tactics of the hoplite phalanx and its effect on Greek culture and the rise of the polis.The contributors include Paul Cartledge, Lin Foxhall, John Hale, Victor Davis Hanson, Donald Kagan, Peter Krentz, Kurt Raaflaub, Adam Schwartz, Anthony Snodgrass, Hans van Wees, and Gregory Viggiano. Men Of Bronze Takes Up One Of The Most Important And Fiercely Debated Subjects In Ancient History And Classics: How Did Archaic Greek Hoplites Fight, And What Role, If Any, Did Hoplite Warfare Play In Shaping The Greek Polis? In The Nineteenth Century, George Grote Argued That The Phalanx Battle Formation Of The Hoplite Farmer Citizen-soldier Was The Driving Force Behind A Revolution In Greek Social, Political, And Cultural Institutions. Throughout The Twentieth Century Scholars Developed And Refined This Grand Hoplite Narrative With The Help Of Archaeology. But Over The Past Thirty Years Other Scholars Have Criticized Nearly Every Major Tenet Of This Orthodoxy. Indeed, These Revisionists Have Persuaded Many Specialists That The Evidence Demands A New Interpretation Of The Hoplite Narrative And A Rewriting Of Early Greek History. Men Of Bronze Gathers Leading Scholars To Advance The Current Debate And Bring It To A Broader Audience Of Ancient Historians, Classicists, Archaeologists, And General Readers. After Explaining The Historical Context And Significance Of The Hoplite Question, The Book Assesses And Pushes Forward The Debate Over The Traditional Hoplite Narrative And Demonstrates Why It Is At A Crucial Turning Point. Instead Of Reaching A Consensus, The Contributors Have Sharpened Their Differences, Providing New Evidence, Explanations, And Theories About The Origin, Nature, Strategy, And Tactics Of The Hoplite Phalanx And Its Effect On Greek Culture And The Rise Of The Polis. The Hoplite Debate / Donald Kagan And Gregory Viggiano -- The Arms, Armor, And Iconography Of Early Greek Hoplite Warfare / Gregory Viggiano And Hans Van Wees -- Hoplitai/politai : Refighting Ancient Battles / Paul Cartledge -- Setting The Frame Chronologically / Anthony Snodgrass -- Early Greek Infantry Fighting In A Mediterranean Context / Kurt A. Raaflaub -- The Hoplite Revolution And The Rise Of The Polis / Gregory Viggiano -- Hoplite Hell : How Hoplites Fought / Peter Krentz -- Large Weapons, Small Greeks : The Practical Limitations Of Hoplite Weapons And Equipment / Adam Schwartz -- Not Patriots, Not Farmers, Not Amateurs : Greek Soldiers Of Fortune And The Origins Of Hoplite Warfare / John R. Hale -- Can We See The Hoplite Revolution On The Ground? : Archaeological Landscapes Material Culture, And Social Status In Early Greece / Lin Foxhall -- Farmers And Hoplites : Models Of Historical Development / Hans Van Wees -- The Hoplite Narrative / Victor Davis Hanson. Edited By Donald Kagan And Gregory F. Viggiano. The Papers Published In This Volume Resulted From A Conference On Early Greek Hoplite Warfare Held At Yale University In April 2008. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Men of Bronze takes up one of the most important and fiercely debated subjects in ancient history and classics: how did archaic Greek hoplites fight, and what role, if any, did hoplite warfare play in shaping the Greek polis? In the nineteenth century, George Grote argued that the phalanx battle formation of the hoplite farmer citizen-soldier was the driving force behind a revolution in Greek social, political, and cultural institutions. Throughout the twentieth century scholars developed and refined this grand hoplite narrative with the help of archaeology. But over the past thirty years scholars have criticized nearly every major tenet of this orthodoxy. Indeed, the revisionists have persuaded many specialists that the evidence demands a new interpretation of the hoplite narrative and a rewriting of early Greek history. Men of Bronze gathers leading scholars to advance the current debate and bring it to a broader audience of ancient historians, classicists, archaeologists, and general readers. After explaining the historical context and significance of the hoplite question, the book assesses and pushes forward the debate over the traditional hoplite narrative and demonstrates why it is at a crucial turning point. Instead of reaching a consensus, the contributors have sharpened their differences, providing new evidence, explanations, and theories about the origin, nature, strategy, and tactics of the hoplite phalanx and its effect on Greek culture and the rise of the polis. The contributors include Paul Cartledge, Lin Foxhall, John Hale, Victor Davis Hanson, Donald Kagan, Peter Krentz, Kurt Raaflaub, Adam Schwartz, Anthony Snodgrass, Hans van Wees, and Gregory Viggiano