9.3 Flashcards
The Hellensitc Phalanx:
Phalanx infantry was
armed in
Macedonian
fashion, with long
sarissa held with two
hands and
Macedonian shield.
Hellenistic Cavalry:
and what did they start using in the third century
what are ehavily armoerd calavry called
he armies of the
Hellenistic kingdoms
included cavalry, but in
smaller ratio than in the
army of Alexander.
Cavalry was used in a
more traditional and
limited fashion, to fight
other cavalry and light
infantry and outflank the
enemy, but not as the main
strike force.
* Light cavalry – mounted
archers and javelin
In the third century BCE cavalrymen started
using shields.
- Heavily armored cavalry (cataphracts), with
chain or scale armor for the rider and the horse,
appeared only at the end of the Hellenistic
period
What did Ptomely II decided to do
Ptolemy II decided to use African elephants,
which could be captured on the West coast of
the Red Sea, in modern Eritrea.
Where was the main important of elepjet trade
was the new city
of Berenike where
the animals
coming on special
ships from the
hunting bases in
Eritrea
Tactics in the Hellenistic period
actics in the Hellenistic period
* There were no significant advancements in tactics
and equipment other than in siege warfare and
fortifications.
* Hellenistic battles were not nearly as dynamic as
those of Alexander.
* They were usually decided by the frontal clash of the
phalanxes, with the cavalry and light infantry in
supporting roles. The elephants were mostly a
psychological weapo
Role of calvalry after Alexander
The role of cavalry was much less
important than in the army of Alexander.
Scholars have suggested that the quality
of cavalry deteriorated after the
retirement or death of the elite heavy
cavalry of Alexander. This gave back the
heavy infantry its prominent role. The
kings invested on the size of the
phalanx, not on elite cavalry
The quality of phalanx soldiers may have
also deteriorated. The Hellenistic phalanx
could be very large in size, but not nearly
as mobile and flexible as that of Philip
and Alexander
Hellenstiic warships
for big ships wahat was the most used tactic
ad when were rams used
In the Hellenistic period new heavier types developed
which replaced the triremes as main battleship. Instead
of three levels of oars with one rower for each oar, they
had more than one rower for each oar. They were
classified as “four”, “five”, ”six” and so on, probably
based on how many rowers operated a set of oars
For those “big ships” boarding was the most used
tacticRams were used in confined spaces like harbors,
where many naval operations of this period took
place. The ships used their size and large rams to form
a barrier or to overwhelm smaller ships that could not
withstand a frontal collision.
what wqas considered above and illegitmatie in naval warfare
piraes and the slave markets
Pirates and brigands
Acquiring resources through war was accepted as
legitimate, but it was considered abusive was when done
by individuals who were not at war = pirates and
brigands
Pirates and brigands usually organized raids against
small and unprotected communities, seized all they
could and quickly retreated to a secure place.
* Prisoners were released after the payment of a
ransom or sold into slavery.
* Some rather large states of the Hellenistic world,
such as the Aetolian confederation, organized large
scale raids against neighbors to seize prisoners and
goods or tolerated that their citizens freely engaged
in piracy.
* Because of their experience in land and especially sea
warfare, pirates were also occasionally enlisted in the
armies of Hellenistic kings or used to disrupt enemy
shipping.
