Page 93 - Western Civilization A Brief History, Volume I To 1715 9th - Jackson J. Spielvogel

The Hoplite Forces. The Greek hoplites were infantrymen equipped with large round shields and long thrusting spears. In battle, they advanced in tight phalanx formation and were dangerous opponents as long as this formation remained unbroken. This vase painting of the seventh century B.C.E. shows two groups of hoplite warriors engaged in battle. The piper on the left is leading another line of soldiers preparing to enter the fray.
The hoplite force had political as well as military repercussions. The aristocratic cavalry was now out- dated. Since each hoplite provided his own armor, men of property, both aristocrats and small farmers, made up the new phalanx. Those who could become hoplites and fight for the state could also challenge aristocratic control. Thus, the development of the hoplite and pha- lanx became an important factor in the rise of democ- racy in Greece.
In the new world of the Greek city-states, war became an integral part of the Greek way of life. The Greek philosopher Plato described war as “always exist- ing by nature between every Greek city-state.”6 The Greeks created a tradition of warfare that became a prominent element of Western civilization. For example, the Greeks devised excellent weapons and body armor, making effective use of technological improvements. Greek armies included a large number of citizen-soldiers, who gladly accepted the need for training and discipline, giving them an edge over their opponents’ often far- larger armies of mercenaries. Moreover, the Greeks
displayed a willingness to engage the enemy head-on, deciding a battle quickly and with as few casualties as possible. Finally, the Greeks demonstrated the effective- ness of heavy infantry in determining the outcome of battle. All of these features of Greek warfare remained characteristic of Western military tactics for centuries.
Colonization and the Growth of Trade
Between 750 and 550 B.C.E., large numbers of Greeks left to settle in distant lands. Poverty and land hunger created by the growing gulf between rich and poor, overpopulation, and the development of trade were all factors that led to the establishment of colonies. Some Greek colonies were simply trading posts or centers for the transshipment of goods to Greece. Most were larger settlements that included fertile agricultural land taken from the native populations in those areas. Each colony was founded as a polis and was usually independent of the mother polis (metropolis) that had established it.
The World of the Greek City-States (ca. 750–ca. 500 B.C.E.) 55
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Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia, Rome//aScala/Art Resource, NY