Warfare
Dive into the realm of ancient Greek warfare with our meticulously curated reading list, offering a comprehensive exploration of military strategies, tactics, and conflicts that shaped the ancient world.
Delve into seminal works by renowned scholars such as Victor Davis Hanson and Donald Kagan, whose groundbreaking research sheds light on the intricacies of hoplite warfare, naval battles, and the rise and fall of Greek city-states. Explore the evolution of Greek military institutions, from the citizen-soldiers of Athens to the legendary phalanxes of Sparta, and uncover the social, political, and economic factors that influenced the conduct of war in antiquity. From the epic struggles of the Persian Wars to the brutal realities of siege warfare, our selection of texts offers a multifaceted examination of ancient Greek warfare, inviting readers to analyze the strategies, technologies, and cultural dynamics that shaped the course of history. Whether you’re a military history enthusiast or a seasoned scholar, our reading list provides a comprehensive overview of the enduring legacy of ancient Greek warfare and its profound impact on the world stage.
General
- Blome, D.A., Greek Warfare Beyond the Polis: Defense, Strategy, and the Making of Ancient Federal States, Ithaca, 2020.
- Garlan, Y. & Lloyd, J., War in the ancient world: a social history, London, 1975.
- Hanson, V.D., Warfare and agriculture in Ancient Greece, London, 1982.
- Heckel, W., Garvin, E.E., Vanderspoel, J. & Naiden, F.S., A Companion to Greek Warfare, Hoboken, 2021.
Further Reading
- Connor, W.I., ‘Early Greek Land Warfare as Symbolic Expression’ in Past & Present 119, 1988, 3-29.
- Finley, M.I., ‘War and empire’ in Ancient history: evidence and models, London, 1985.
- Hodkinson, S., Warfare, wealth and the crisis of Spartiate society in War and society in the Greek world, london, 1993, 146-176.
- Lendon, J.E., Soldiers and ghosts: a history of battle in classical antiquity, New Haven CT, 2005.
- Raaflaub, K., Father of all, destroyer of all: war in late fifth-century Athenian discourse and ideology in War and democracy: a comparative study of the Korean War and the Peloponnesian War, New York, 2015, 307-356.
- Sheldon, R.M., Ambush: Surprise Attack in Ancient Greek Warfare, London, 2012.
- Shipley, G., ‘The limits of war’ in War and society in the Greek world, London, 1993, 1-24.
