A look at history and popular culture
This week we're going to take a brief break from our series on hoplites (I, II, IIIa, IIIb) to address a broader question in how we understand the mechanics of warfare with contact weapons, which is the mechanics of the concept of a 'battle pulse.' This notion, that front lines in contact might occasionally withdraw … Continue reading Intermission: Battle Pulses
This is the second half of the third part of our four-part series (I, II, IIIa) discussing the debates surrounding ancient Greek hoplites and the formation in which they (mostly?) fought, the phalanx. Last week, we discussed the development of hoplite warfare through the Archaic period (c. 750-480). Our evidence for that early period of … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part IIIb: A Phalanx By Any Other Name
This is the third part of our four-part series (I, II) discussing the debates surrounding ancient Greek hoplites and the formation in which they (mostly?) fought, the phalanx. Last week, we looked at how the equipment which defined the hoplite - hoplite (ὁπλίτης), after all, means 'equipped man') - and how it weighs in on … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part IIIa: An Archaic Phalanx?
Hey folks! This week is Thanksgiving in the United States and I've opted to take advantage of the break in teaching to focus down on getting some chapter revisions done, so we'll be back to hoplites next week. In the meantime, if you are looking for things to read or watch, I have a few … Continue reading Gap Week, November 28, 2025 (Thanksgiving)
This is the second part of what looks like it'll be end up as a four part series discussing the debates surrounding ancient Greek hoplites, the heavy infantry of the Archaic (800-480) and Classical (480-323) periods. Last week, we outlined the contours of the debate: the major points of contention and the history of the … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part II: Hoplite Equipment, Hoplight or Hopheavy?
This week (and next) we're looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I want to outline the major debate, which I have alluded to quite a few times here, that swirls around hoplite warfare and the phalanx. … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it's not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week. So instead this week I want to outline another debate in ancient military history, the 'Roman strategy debate.' … Continue reading Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Something different this week! The folks at Paradox Development Studios were nice enough to give me a review copy of the upcoming Europa Universalis V (releasing Nov. 4) ahead of release so that I could share some thoughts! For the unfamiliar, Europa Universalis is a series of strategy games covering the early modern period (traditionally … Continue reading Miscellania: Europa Universalis V Confirmed! (First Impressions)
Hey, folks! Fireside this week! Percy looking for some nap time. Me too, buddy, me too.And yes, he is on a blanket that is on a cat bed. What you can't see is that cat bed is on another, different cat bed. My man sleeps in style. I don't have a burning topic this week, … Continue reading Fireside Friday, October 24, 2025
This is the fifth and final part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, IVd,IVe, V) looking at the structures of life for pre-modern peasant farmers and showing how historical modeling can help us explore the experiences of people who rarely leave much evidence of their day-to-day personal lives. I've been stressing … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part V: Life In Cycles