Legion vs. Phalanx

[vartan]

You can compare the Greek Military Machine to the Roman one. In this repsect Rome's was far superior. They had an almost mechanical ability of putting out large amounts of troops. They had a well trained, well motivated officier corps. They just won the 2nd Punic War. Most of all they were determined to do what they wanted to do.

Exactly. So what's everyone on about, saying this comparison can't be made, that comparison can't be made? Come on people! I don't understand why you can't compare two systems, two machines, or if individual units in the game, why you can't compare 120 legionaries to 122 phalangites.

[ARCHIPPOS]

Come on people! I don't understand why you can't compare two systems, two machines, or if individual units in the game, why you can't compare 120 legionaries to 122 phalangites.

well you can compare 120 legionaries to 122 phalangites but such comparisons would be like focusing on the trees and missing the forest... the idea is that the phallanx was part of a two fold doctrine encorporating static (pike infantry) and dynamic (heavy cavalry) elements... In Alexander's mind phallanx was never supposed to fight and win on its own... so instead you should concentrate on studying doctrines/tactics/strategies not mere material ... (for example in WW II France had in overal better material than Germany but because their doctrine and moral was inferior they lost).

Also i would like to say that moral and will are major determining factors as well... one could arguably say that Greeks might have morally declined losing their "warlike/competitive" edge over their western competitors... (such examples are very often in history)

study ...

... Medes < Persians < Greeks [Sparta<Athens<Thebes<Macedonia] < Romans < Western Barbarians
etc etc etc... notice the shift of power from the center to the periphery ??? this shift is linked with social and military innovations , vitality ,competitive edge or mere "will for power".

[-42-]

This topic is the most beaten to death ever. Legion is probably better, simply being more flexible, plus the average troop quality was simply superior.

[Knight of Heaven]

This topic is the most beaten to death ever. Legion is probably better, simply being more flexible, plus the average troop quality was simply superior.

In the macedonian wars The romans had the veterans of teh wars against hannibal, in africa, and ibéria, that would count for something im sure, since it was the maniples, on their own that win the battle against Philipe the consul Flaminius couldnt order 20 maniples to flank and atack the main phalanx on the right Philip army. It was a centurion, the historians didnt even know his name.

its nice documentary :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3w6pXqekm4&NR=1