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The City At War
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Because most Greek cities were short of land and food, they would often fight with each other. Battles would take place at set times of the year when men were not needed to work in the fields. It was considered very unfair to attack at other times. Soldiers had shields and spears. Battles were fought by both sides pushing, shoving, and jabbing at each other until one army gave up and fled. Usually not many men were killed.
In 490 BC when the Persians invaded Greece, the Athenian army faced them on the plain of Marathon to the north of the city. To everyones surprise, they pushed the Persians back towards the sea. A story says a runner raced back to Athens with the good news. This inspired the Marathon race.
(A) PHALANX
The soldiers fought linked together in phalanxes (rows of men), probably about eight deep. The soldiers had to be well trained to hold a strong line together in the heat of the battle.
(B) WEAPONS
The main fighting weapon was a wooden spear tipped with iron. It was used to prod an enemy until he was wounded, or until he turned and ran.
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Previous:
Back
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Book:
The Greeks
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Section:
Spotlight on Ancient Greeks
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Chapter:
The City at War
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