07-24-2007, 06:49 AM
I think it was a bit of both.
The economic stress of the long war should not be underestimated. The peroikoi and the heilotoi were affected also because they formed great parts of the Lakedaimonian armies.
But I think that the lightening of the equipment has also something to do with the changes in warfare you mentioned. The Spartans realised that the closed helmet and body armour were not essential to hoplite warfare. So the personal security of the single warrior was a bit neglected. It coincided wonderfully with economic needs.
Something similar happened in the dreadful era of the 30-years-war. After 1635 heavy armour disappeared quickly never to come again (until recently) although it was quite capable to protect the bearers against many of the used weapons.
The economic stress of the long war should not be underestimated. The peroikoi and the heilotoi were affected also because they formed great parts of the Lakedaimonian armies.
But I think that the lightening of the equipment has also something to do with the changes in warfare you mentioned. The Spartans realised that the closed helmet and body armour were not essential to hoplite warfare. So the personal security of the single warrior was a bit neglected. It coincided wonderfully with economic needs.
Something similar happened in the dreadful era of the 30-years-war. After 1635 heavy armour disappeared quickly never to come again (until recently) although it was quite capable to protect the bearers against many of the used weapons.
Wolfgang Zeiler
