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Given spartan relative military dominance in that era, it did produce skilled soldiers. But it's quite possible that the skills required to function well in a s
by hirundo 6y ago
Given spartan relative military dominance in that era, it did produce skilled soldiers. But it's quite possible that the skills required to function well in a shield wall are compatible with being broken and dysfunctional otherwise. That's a common modern trope, e.g., with Vietnam vets.
- setr 6y agoWell, ACOUP also argues that sparta really never was very militarily dominant in the major wars (ie with persia/athens), and even in their local area, they largely dominated through their large population of helots (slaves), winning by number rather than military prowess or individual fighging capabilities
- dreen 6y agoAccording to the article I quoted (specifically, part VI [1]), their military dominance is a bit of a myth, and was more based on reputation even at the time. [1] https://acoup.blog/2019/09/20/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-vi-spartan-battle/ https://acoup.blog/2019/09/20/collections-this-isnt-sparta-p...
- whakim 6y agoActually, one of the defining features of hoplite armies is that they didn't require a lot of skill. Hoplite armies were pretty much blunt force instruments. And yet, even within that context, Spartan armies were pretty bad on a tactical level.
- tokai 6y ago>the skills required to function well in a shield wall are compatible with being broken and dysfunctional otherwise Thebes, with their sacred band, would suggest that broken men gets trashed by men fighting for love.