Greek City-states

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Greek City-states

• Constantly quarrelling
• Formed alliances with one another
• Rivalry often led to open conflict
• Infantryman was the backbone of all armies of
  different Greek city states

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What do we know about these Greek soldiers?

• They were infantrymen(fought on foot)
• Fought in organized regimentsused the same
  weapons in the same way
• Given military training according to rules laid
  down by the government
• Were disciplined fighters at a time when other
  warriors in Europe fought as a loose mob of
  undisciplined individuals
• True ancestors of todays armies

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Hoplite means armored man

• Not a full time paid soldier
• Usually a farmer or merchant
• Both rich and poor expected to fight
• If a man enjoyed the privileges of a city he
  should be prepared to fight to defend it

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The soldiers wore breastplates(called cuirass),
helmets, and greaves to protect their legs. Their
shields were carefully packed away until needed.
This vase painting shows a boy bringing a shield
in ready for use while another helps a soldier
with his greaves. The greaves were split up the
back to protect the legs.
http//www.gridclub.com
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Hoplite Equipment
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http//www.metmuseum.org
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http//www.metmuseum.org
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A Greek soldier wore a linen shirt with metal
armour plates on the shoulders. A bronze
breastplate covered his chest and stomach, and
greaves (shin guards) covered his legs. He wore a
bronze helmet with a tall crest on his head. The
hoplite carried a shield(usually round) and a
spear(called a dory). Around his waist was a belt
with a short sword (called a xiphos). Hoplites
fought in a close formation(called a phalanx).
Greek soldiers had to pay for their own armour
and weapons.  If you could not afford to buy
armour and weapons you could still serve in the
army as a stone-thrower or archer.
http//www.gridclub.com http//www.educate.org.uk/
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The British Museum, reproduced in Primary
History, Ancient Greeks (ISBN 1-852766-111-3)
Ancient Art and Architecture Collection
reproduced in Collins Primary History, Ancient
Greece (ISBN 0-000315451-3)
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A Persian Soldier
A modern drawing of a Persian soldier from
Investigating History, Ancient Greece by Peter
Kent and Sue Cosson (ISBN 0-7501-0393-0)