Esposito, Gabriele Armies of Ancient Greece Circa 500 to 338 BC. History, Organization & Equipment

Conflict was rife among the Greeks of the Classical period, including some of the most famous wars and battles of the whole ancient period, such as the defeat of the Persians at Marathon, the Spartans heroic last stand at Thermopylae, the gruelling Pelopponesian War and the epic March of the Ten Thousand. The Greek heavy infantry spearmen, or hoplites, are one of the most recognizable types of ancient warrior and their tighly-packed phalanx formation dominated the battlefield. Covering the period from the Persian Wars to the Macedonian victory at the Battle of Chaeronea, Gabriele Esposito examines not only the hoplites but also the other troops that featured in Greek armies with growing importance as time went on, such as light infantry skirmishers and cavalry. He details their arms, armour and equipment, organization and tactics. His clear, informative text is beautifully illustrated with dozens of colour photographs showing how the equipment was worn and used.

The Greek heavy infantry, the hoplites, are one of the best-known types of ancient warriors, and their tightly packed phalanx formation dominated the battlefield for centuries. Gabriele Esposito examines not only the hoplites, but also the other troops of Greek armies that grew in importance over time, such as the skirmishers of the light infantry and the cavalry. He describes their weapons, armour and other equipment, organisation and tactics. His clear, informative text is illustrated with dozens of colour photographs showing how all the equipment was carried by the different types of infantry and cavalry.