Greek Warfare

Review Early People of the Aegean• On the island of Crete, the Minoans built a

brilliant civilization based on trade.

• Mycenaean civilization, which dominated the Aegean world from 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C., absorbed Minoan, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian influences, which were passed on to later Greeks.

• The Mycenaeans are best remembered for their part in the Trojan War, which they fought with Troy, a city in present-day Turkey. The Greek poet Homer is our chief source of information about the Trojan War in his story the Iliad.

• Separated from each other by rugged mountains, the early Greeks built many small city-states or Polis.

S E C T I O N 2The Rise of Greek City-States

•Two influential city-states developed different ways of life and dominate Greek society and History:

• Sparta became a military state with a rigid system of rule.

• Athens set up a limited democracy and encouraged the exploration of many areas of knowledge.

Chapter 5, Section 2Chapter 5, Section 2

Early Government Styles• Monarchy – King Rules

•Aristocracy – Small wealthy group - Nobles or Upper Class rule

•Oligarchy - Select Small Group rule – Warriors, Philosophers, Merchants, etc.

Greek Warriors = Hoplites-Backbone of Greek Society and Government

Greek Armor - the SHIELD

•Shield = HOPLON •Defining piece of equipment - Greek warriors = HOPLITES•Hoplites = middle-class freemen farmers•paid for and took care of their own hoplon, armor, weapons•expensive - like a modern car

Hoplon3 foot Greek Shield

The Shield - The HOPLON

•Heavy & large concave or bowl shaped•Wooden core with bronze facing and leather backing•About 3 feet across & about 18 lbs.•Held with arm-band & hand grip•Rested on left shoulder

Hoplite

Athenian

Spartan

Greek Armor

•Hoplite’s armor = PANOPLY•Shield, helmet, breastplate, greaves, sword, spear, tunic•Weighed about 70 lbs.•Typical Greek soldier - 150 lbs.•Expensive

Greek Armor = PANOPLYThe SPEAR •Principle offensive weapon•8-9 feet long, held overhand•Iron or steel head - often broke upon impact•Bronze butt-spike

Greek Armor = PANOPLYThe Sword•Iron blade with bronze fittings - about 2 feet long•Cutting, Slashing & thrusting•A Last resort weapon, for “up-close” work•Heavy curved blade for slashing= kopis

Helmet and Sword

Greek Armor

•Bronze helmets - heavy, uncomfortable •Worn back on the head when not fighting•Bronze chest armor = cuirass

•Bronze shin guards = greaves

Greek Warfare - the Hoplites

Greek Warfare - the Hoplites

The PHALANX - Hoplite Warfare

Phalanx-Disciplined Rows of Spearman

Naval WarfareNaval warship = TRIREME

-long & narrow, fast - like a spear-3 rows of rowers - hence TRI-REME

Naval Warfare

-Front of ship - iron ram-basic idea - ram and immobilize enemy ship

Naval Warfare