Decline of Sparta & Philip of Macedon Flashcards
In what century did the political alliances shift?
4th century - warfare was common and Persia was involved
How did Sparta’s war with Persia end?
With the King’s Peace in 386 BC - Sparta will surrender Greek city-states in Asia Minor back to Persia, and the city states in mainland Greece will be able to govern themselves
Why does the Boeotian war start?
Athens and Thebes still bitter at Sparta - begins in 378 BC
What is the Battle of Leuctra?
In 371, Thebes defeats Sparta for the first time in a very long time, by thickening their phalanx in a specific place to put more pressure on Sparta’s
What is the 2nd Battle of Mantinea?
in 362 BC all the Greek city-states were basically fighting each other
What were some changes in Greek warfare that occurred?
Professionalism, mercenaries, lighter armour, synopes, peltasts
What was a synope?
It was when Greece dressed women up as men, put cooking tools on them as armour to fool the Persians that their army was larger than reality
Why did mercenaries become so popular?
Easy to hire them for war as they came from poorer areas so would do it for money
Why did professionalism increase?
Farmers/soldiers couldn’t be away from their farms for very long so this helped develop professionalism
What is the Anabasis?
A book about the campaign of Persia under Cyrus the Younger against Greece
What did Aineias the Tactician write?
A handbook about how to survive under siege in the 350s
What was a peltast?
A type of soldier named for their crescent shield, the pelta. They had some binding on the legs, no heavy metal armour to hold them down, and carried spears
Who was Iphicrates?
A mercenary general who converted his hoplites to peltasts (or peltast-like soldiers)
What was Sicily known for?
Siege warfare
Where is Macedon?
Lies to the North edges of Greece
How was Macedon ruled?
By kings with no constitutional limitations
When did Philip take to the throne?
At age 23, when his brother dies - it was very shady as so many people wanted his throne
What was Philip’s top priority when he became king?
Reworking the army through standardized equipment provided by the state and different types of soldiers (companion cavalry, etc)
What equipment did Philip introduce?
Syrissa, shields smaller than a hoplon (strung on a strap of linen), new breastplate of stiff linen (no scales), high leather boots with no greaves, short swords (if the phalanx broke)
What was a syrissa?
A 16-18ft long spear with an iron point of 12 inches long,, with a bronze bolt spike to be stabbed into the ground when the spear is at rest
What were the Hypaspists?
King’s personal guard, with a bit more armour and a shorter spear
What were the Companion Cavalry?
Added by Philip, they were heavily armoured on strong mounts but still without stirrups and armed with a shorter syrissa
What other soldiers did Philip have in his army?
Lighter infantry, slingers, archers, javelin men, cavalry
What was a recipe for success for Macedon?
Loyalty, commitment to the king, proper training and armour supplied by the state
In what year did Philip defeat Athens and Thebes?
338 BC; it was Thebes last great stand and Alexander led the cavalry at only 18
What does Philip create after he defeats the Greeks?
League of Corinth
What was Philip’s plan before he died?
Save city-states from Persia; he was to lead the expedition but then he died (so sad) and Alexander takes to the throne
