TY  - GEN
T1  - Ancient battle formations
A1  - Swanton, Justin
LA  - English
PP  - Place of publication not identified
PB  - Pen & Sword Military
YR  - 2020
UL  - https://ebooks.jgu.edu.in/Record/ebsco_acadsubs_on1192490971
AB  - An analysis of ancient Greek, Roman, and Macedonian winning battle formations, from why they worked, the equipment and men used, and how they broke down. Justin Swanton examines the principal battle-winning formations of the ancient world, determining their composition, function and efficacy. An introductory chapter looks at the fundamental components of the principal battle formations of heavy and light infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots, showing how they bolstered the individual's soldier's willingness to fight. The rest of the book focuses on massed infantry that reigned supreme in this era: the heavily armored Greek hoplite phalanx that was immune to the weaponry of its non-Greek opponents; the Macedonian pike phalanx that was unbeatable against frontal attacks so long as it kept order; the Roman triplex acies which, contrary to popular opinion, consisted of continuous lines in open order, with file spaces wide enough to allow embattled infantry to fall back after which those files closed up instantly against the enemy. A careful study of the Greek and Latin of the sources sheds fresh light on how these formations were organized and worked, reevaluating many conventional notions and leading to some surprising conclusions.
CN  - UD157
SN  - 9781526740076
SN  - 1526740079
SN  - 1526740087
SN  - 9781526740083
SN  - 1526740060
SN  - 9781526740069
KW  - Infantry drill and tactics : History : To 1500.
KW  - Ancient.
KW  - HISTORY.
KW  - Greece.
KW  - Rome.
KW  - Strategy.
KW  - Military.
KW  - Infantry drill and tactics
KW  - To 1500
KW  - History
ER  -