For decades, scholars argued that the development of the phalanx (around 700–650 BC) created a new class of middle-class "farmer-soldiers". Because these men provided their own armor and defended the state, they demanded and received political rights, leading to the rise of the polis (city-state) and early democracy.
Hoplite warfare was defined by its equipment and its rigid tactical formation. Men of Bronze: Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece Men of Bronze: Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece
Modern scholars in this volume provide evidence that the transition to the phalanx was more gradual. They argue that individual prowess remained important long after the phalanx was established and that the connection between hoplite warfare and political revolution may not be as direct as previously thought. Core Elements of Hoplite Warfare For decades, scholars argued that the development of
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