Collections: How to Polis, 101, Part IIb: Archons

This is the second part of the second part of our three(ish) part look at the governing structures of the Greek polis (I, IIa, IIb, IIc, III). Last time, we looked at the basic institutions of governance, how nearly every polis has magistrates, an assembly, and one or more councils which function together to govern … Continue reading Collections: How to Polis, 101, Part IIb: Archons

Collections: How to Polis, 101, Part I: Component Parts

This is the first of a planned three part (I, IIa, IIb, IIc, III) look at the structure of the ancient Greek polis, the self-governing 'city state,' as part of a larger series on civic governance in the pre-modern world. Since I argued, way back in June of 2019, that a noble house in Game … Continue reading Collections: How to Polis, 101, Part I: Component Parts

Collections: Total Generalship: Commanding Pre-Modern Armies, Part II: Commands

This is the second of a three-part (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc) look at the role of the general in a pre-modern army, particularly in the context of a pitched battle. Last week, we looked at the information a general might have before and during a battle. What we found was that, in contrast to … Continue reading Collections: Total Generalship: Commanding Pre-Modern Armies, Part II: Commands