12-21-2009, 11:08 PM
I'm doing my dissertation on basically how Hellenistic states militarily reformed, innovated and re-organized in order to face new challanges. I've been doing a hell of a lot of research delving into about 62 seperate works at the current moment. I've decided to divide the actual dissertation itself into several sections and deal with them themactically instead of chronologically or nationally. The sections are :
(1.) State and Manpower (How the states and kingdoms tried to increase manpower, examples being Kleomenes III and his successors, The eastern monarchies and Philip V expansion during the 2nd and 3rd Macedonian wars etc),
(2.) Infantry (How new types of tactics and troop types were introduced and played about with, for example the Thureophoroi/Thorakitai, the adoption of the sarissa by the Achaeans, Spartans and so on, and the supposed 'Romanization' of the Ptolemaic, Seleucid and Pontic armies etc),
(3.) Cavalry (Not much on this except the decline of cavalry in this period. However i do have the Kataphraktoi being introduced as well as shields for cavalry etc),
(4.) Elephants, exotic weapons and artillery (Once again, not an amazing ammount except a shift in elephants being used defensively etc, the gradual decline of chariots etc and siege warfare and artillery - which seems to me to not have much in the way of major innovations as the technology had already been done by then...)
I was considering ending the dissertation with a conclusion based on how they changed and why in the end how the Hellenistic states were not able to overcome their enemies (Rome being enemy no.1)
Can anyone suggest any other major things that might be put into these catergories? Any other reforms, re-organizations or innovations made by states to imrpove their armies and fighting skill? (i am doing the period more or less around 280 BC onwards by the way)
I cannot find much in the way about Thureophoroi and Thorakitai except in the Cambridge history of ancient warfare and Duncan Heads book, which although helpful don't explain much about why this troop type would be chosen specifically and also little is said about thorakites.
Obviously i would appreciate any such help, and hopefully this could expand into a general discussion on the period and not a stuffy thing for me to enquire about my dissertation haha.
(1.) State and Manpower (How the states and kingdoms tried to increase manpower, examples being Kleomenes III and his successors, The eastern monarchies and Philip V expansion during the 2nd and 3rd Macedonian wars etc),
(2.) Infantry (How new types of tactics and troop types were introduced and played about with, for example the Thureophoroi/Thorakitai, the adoption of the sarissa by the Achaeans, Spartans and so on, and the supposed 'Romanization' of the Ptolemaic, Seleucid and Pontic armies etc),
(3.) Cavalry (Not much on this except the decline of cavalry in this period. However i do have the Kataphraktoi being introduced as well as shields for cavalry etc),
(4.) Elephants, exotic weapons and artillery (Once again, not an amazing ammount except a shift in elephants being used defensively etc, the gradual decline of chariots etc and siege warfare and artillery - which seems to me to not have much in the way of major innovations as the technology had already been done by then...)
I was considering ending the dissertation with a conclusion based on how they changed and why in the end how the Hellenistic states were not able to overcome their enemies (Rome being enemy no.1)
Can anyone suggest any other major things that might be put into these catergories? Any other reforms, re-organizations or innovations made by states to imrpove their armies and fighting skill? (i am doing the period more or less around 280 BC onwards by the way)
I cannot find much in the way about Thureophoroi and Thorakitai except in the Cambridge history of ancient warfare and Duncan Heads book, which although helpful don't explain much about why this troop type would be chosen specifically and also little is said about thorakites.
Obviously i would appreciate any such help, and hopefully this could expand into a general discussion on the period and not a stuffy thing for me to enquire about my dissertation haha.
Jon Rosas
War Studies and History Undergraduate
War Studies and History Undergraduate
