Seminar 6 - Warfare and Conflict

Question 1

How did the Hoplites fight?

Answer 1

According to unwritten customs: they formally declared war, they confined warfare to set battlefields, they did not attack non-combatants and they erected a trophy for victories.

Question 2

Impacts of the ‘Hoplite revolution’?

Answer 2

Major social and political consequences, namely Greek democracy.

Question 3

Tyrtaeus’ poetry about Hoplite warfare

Answer 3

Aimed to help the Spartans win the Messenian War. He focused on the unity of soldiers and the importance of victory and the pride of the soldiers.

Question 4

Archilochos’ poetry

Answer 4

Writes about throwing down your shield and not fighting to the death - he was driven out of Sparta for this.

Question 5

Herodotus’ account of the ‘Battle of Champions’:

Answer 5

He focuses on the reasons for this battle and the outcomes.

Question 6

Pausanias’ accounts of the Battle of Champions

Answer 6

Claims that the Argives won (as do the Argives) and the sent a bronze horse to commemorate it.

Question 7

Herodotus’ account of Mardonius

Answer 7

Mardonius (according to Hdt) claims that the Greeks wage war in a stupid fashion. They seek level land to fight. They should use heralds and messengers instead of fighting as they all generally speak the same language.