Tag: Military History

Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part II: Hoplite Equipment, Hoplight or Hopheavy?

This is the second part of what looks like it'll be end up as a four part series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, Intermission, IVa, IVb) 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 … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part II: Hoplite Equipment, Hoplight or Hopheavy? →

Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos

This week we're beginning a series looking at hoplites (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, Intermission, IVa, IVb), 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, … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos →

Collections: Alexander Goes West (A Silly Counterfactual)

This week we're going to do something a bit silly, in part because I have to prepare for and travel to an invited workshop/talk event later this week and so don't have quite the time for a more normal 'full' post and in part because it is fun to be silly sometimes (and we might … Continue reading Collections: Alexander Goes West (A Silly Counterfactual) →

Collections: The Siege of Eregion, Part IV: What Siege Equipment?

This is the fourth part of our [five? -ish? I, II, III] part series on the Siege of Eregion in Amazon's Rings of Power. Last week, we took the opportunity presented by Adar's absurd plan to dam a river using catapults to collapse a mountain to discuss the capabilities and functioning principles of historical counterweight … Continue reading Collections: The Siege of Eregion, Part IV: What Siege Equipment? →

Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IVa: Philip V

This is the first part of the fourth part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, V) look at why the thing to use to beat a Macedonian sarisa phalanx is, in fact, a Roman legion in the third and second century BC. Last time, we finished our look … Continue reading Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IVa: Philip V →

Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIb: Pyrrhus

This is the second part of the third part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, V) look at the performance of the Roman army and its legions in the third and second century BC against the Hellenistic armies of the heirs of Alexander. Last time, we sought to … Continue reading Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIb: Pyrrhus →

Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIa: Peak Pike-Phalanx

This is the first part of the third part of our four(ish) part (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, V) look at the triumph of the Roman legions in the third and second century over the Hellenistic armies of the heirs of Alexander. Last time, we looked at some of the operational … Continue reading Collections: Phalanx’s Twilight, Legion’s Triumph, Part IIIa: Peak Pike-Phalanx →

Collections: The Marian Reforms Weren’t a Thing

This week we're going to take a bit of a detour because the previous post on the Roman conscription system, the dilectus, sparked some discussion both here and on social media which made me realize that the popular understanding of the way that the Roman army changed during the Late Republic (c. 133-31 BC, though … Continue reading Collections: The Marian Reforms Weren’t a Thing →