Something i don't understand... (Greek history question)

**QwertyMIDX** · 01-10-2006, 03:40

Originally Posted by Laundreu

They certainly would have a chance against a Makedonian phalanx. Even head-on, though they would be at a disadvantage. Remember, that shield is more than capable of stopping a spear thrust, especially by big, heavy, unwieldy sarissas. Note that the Makedonian phalanx was not an offensive formation, but a defensive one (tactically speaking, I mean). It was created to be the anvil on which the cavalry sledgehammer will break the enemy.

Very good post! People should all remember that the Makedonian phalanx wasn't supposed to operate alone, it worked in conjunction with the cavalry and that is why it was so effective; the continual undermining of the heavy cavalry in the successor states gradually enfeebled their armed forces. This is one of the reasons the Romans were able to defeat them with the relative ease that they did.

**Laundreu** · 01-10-2006, 04:01

Originally Posted by QwertyMIDX

Very good post! People should all remember that the Makedonian phalanx wasn't supposed to operate alone, it worked in conjunction with the cavalry and that is why it was so effective; the continual undermining of the heavy cavalry in the successor states gradually enfeebled their armed forces. This is one of the reasons the Romans were able to defeat them with the relative ease that they did.

Why thank you! This era has been an interest of mine, with regards to military history, though I tended to avoid the Successor states out of a sense of disappointment - phalanx versus phalanx battles are probably the most boring, even to read about, ever. Two pointy brick walls march into one another! Wait six hours or until one side or another hits its opponent with a cavalry charge! Rout! Wash, rinse, repeat! Admittedly this is because, if I remember, the various states had quite a bit of trouble affording large formations of non-phalangite units, but hey! Maybe they should have stopped building insane oar-powered dreadnaughts in favor of outfitting more cavalry.

If it weren't for the fact I can't make heads nor tails of the RTW modding scene, I'd look into hopping on board, or even doing some modding of my own.

**QwertyMIDX** · 01-10-2006, 04:23

EB is always looking for people to write descriptions (of buildings, traits, ancils, etc.). If you're interested there's plenty of work for you that doesn't ever invole touching a RTW file.

**Laundreu** · 01-10-2006, 04:36

Originally Posted by QwertyMIDX

EB is always looking for people to write descriptions (of buildings, traits, ancils, etc.). If you're interested there's plenty of work for you that doesn't ever invole touching a RTW file.

Perhaps. I'll send a private message!

My big limiters are twofold - A) I'm currently an undergraduate college student...B) in middle Georgia. What sources I can get are pretty dingy, until I get to Atlanta come September. Until that, it's mostly Osprey books. And the internet, but the internet does not equal a good source.

**Dayve** · 01-10-2006, 04:37

When was the huge spear, small shield method of war developed? What date roughly? I too would love to learn more about greek history, the succesor states, carthage, all the factions of EB... Especially Rome, but the best i can do is online sources because unfortunately the library here in my town is utterly crap when it comes to history research type books... For an example not too long ago i went in to look for a book by Adrian Goldsworthy which i think was entitled simply: Rome, they didn't have it so i went to the desk and asked if they could order it from another library, and she told me no books by Adrian Goldsworthy were on their computer at all... Some library huh?

**Laundreu** · 01-10-2006, 04:44

Originally Posted by Dayve

When was the huge spear, small shield method of war developed? What date roughly? I too would love to learn more about greek history, the succesor states, carthage, all the factions of EB... Especially Rome, but the best i can do is online sources because unfortunately the library here in my town is utterly crap when it comes to history research type books... For an example not too long ago i went in to look for a book by Adrian Goldsworthy which i think was entitled simply: Rome, they didn't have it so i went to the desk and asked if they could order it from another library, and she told me no books by Adrian Goldsworthy were on their computer at all... Some library huh?

The huge spear/small shield Makedonian phalanx, you mean? Sometime in the early 350s to late 340s BCE, I think - given time I can probably get you a more accurate date.

**QwertyMIDX** · 01-10-2006, 06:35

If you mean the Makedonian phalanx, which I think is what you're getting at. Sometime shortly after 359 BC, the ascension of Phillip II to the throne of Makedon. He is credited with having devloped that style of warfare, although it was likely not something a single man did the period of it's evolution can be pretty well centered during the early portion of his regin, with some elements likely having come earlier and some changes being made both late in his reign and during the campaigns of Alexander.