Military forces

doi:10.1017/CHOL9780521782739.012

11 - Military forces

from Part II - The Hellenistic World and the Roman Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2008

Nicholas Sekunda and

Edited by

Hans van Wees and

Nicholas Sekunda: Affiliation:
Professor of Ancient History, University of Gdansk
Philip de Souza: Affiliation:
College Lecturer in Classics, University College Dublin
Philip Sabin: Affiliation:
King's College London
Hans van Wees: Affiliation:
University College London
Michael Whitby: Affiliation:
University of Warwick

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Summary

the age of philip and alexander

Military demography

In the classical Greek poleis, the exclusive nature of citizenship restricted the expansion of armies, while the lack of state finances limited the development of tactical diversity. Mass emancipation into the citizenry had taken place during the archaic period, but during the classical period citizenship became increasingly exclusive. The manpower losses suffered in many states (such as Athens) during the Peloponnesian War were never replaced.

Another factor reducing the size of hoplite forces was the decline in personal wealth evident during the fourth century. Fewer Greeks were able to provide themselves with hoplite weaponry, either for the service of their own state or for mercenary service abroad. In 401 the 10,000 ‘Cyrean’ mercenaries consisted of 10,400 hoplites and only 2,500 peltasts: a proportion of four to one. By 374/3, when Iphicrates was appointed to command the Greek mercenaries assembled for the planned invasion of Egypt, it would seem that the majority of these ‘Iphicrateans’ were without hoplite equipment.

Keywords

Hellenistic period Macedonian Carthaginian naval effort Alexander military force shipbuilding timber warships Rome Philip

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare , pp. 325 - 367

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521782739.012 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2007

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11 - Military forces

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