This might be bad: I need some short paper ideas for this period of time (or after).

[pezhetairoi]

I think he's saying, he needs to write a short essay paper thing about the EB time period, that has to argue a point, for example 'the phalanx was better than the maniple in the early Republican period.' or something of the sort.

And he's hoping we can suggest possible topics that would not be overdemanding in research, given the short length of what he has to write.

Me, I'd suggest arguments on things like:

The propensity of the Greek states of the period to use mercenaries as their standing armies were disruptive to sociopolitical stability and also contributed in a large part to defining the flow of history during this period. For example, things like Pyrrhos' mercenaries, the Mamertines and the trouble they caused for Rome and Carthage, the mercenaries that caused revolutions in Syrakousai until Hiero II dealt with them, the Gauls that were admitted into Epeiros (according to Polybios).

Another possible one to argue would be something obvious, that Hannibal, rather than destroying Rome, made it possible for Rome to become so great militarily, because he taught the lessons that Romans needed to learn in how to handle their armies via the school of hard knocks. Again, Polybius, Livy, Dodge, to name the books that I have, could be consulted.

A third could be an essay arguing that Augustus was a master of political intrigue and a great calculator of power equations and a strong understanding of stakes, pressure points in the system, etc that could be exploited. Again, something on which there is already a lot of material. Dio Cassius (IIRC) can be consulted on this.

Just some ideas. Of course, I have absolutely no idea what level you are writing at, and I haven't even started undergrad studies yet, so I'm writing in a vacuum. But I hope this helps.

EDIT: Yes, I'd agree with cmacq on this. For an EB player who reads the forums regularly, there are so many controversies you can read about! XD In fact, just grab one of Persian Cataphract's long lectures. There's already enough in one of his lectures to give you a long essay if you flesh it out and research a bit more into the names, places and events he's provided. Heh.