The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) by Victor Davis Hanson (PDF)

Description

The Ancient Greeks–who believed that war is the most important thing humans do–bequeathed to the West an incomparable military legacy that still influences the structure of armies and doctrine. Understand the reasons why their unique approach to fighting was so successful and so relentless, its role at the heart of classical culture, the rise of the city state, agrarian duels, the emergence of Athenian and Spartan power, the development of war as a specialized science, and the collapse of Greek warfare after Alexander the Great. 224 pages, 70 color illus., 80 b/w illus., 7 3/4 x 10 3/8.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This ebook has some typos in it, but nothing to prevent it from being informative.Author of

⭐One of the best books I have read. Explains a great deal about cultural changes in Greece.

⭐Great book and I love Greek history

⭐Outstanding!

⭐This is an excellent summary of Victor Davis Hanson’s views on Greek warfare presented in the format of a coffeetable-style book. This volume is superior to most books of this type because Davis Hanson’s analysis is really a social history of Greek warfare, not the usual compendium of battles, campaigns, and military technology. Davis Hanson does a very nice job of presenting the historical development of Greek warfare from the emergence of citizen hoplite militias associated with the classical polis to the large standing armies associated with large Hellenistic states. For Davis Hanson, Greek military history is a key feature of classical history. The hoplite militia and hoplite battles are the ultimate expression of the relative egalitarianism and solidarity of the polis. Changes in military technology become semi-independent forces in classical history and an important aspect of the development of the polis and its replacement by authoritarian Hellenistic states. This book is a clear digest of Davis Hanson’s very interesting views of classical history. His analysis is bold and largely convincing. One area, however, where I think he is on shaky ground is his assertion that the Greeks invented heavy infantry combat and set the pattern for Western warfare. He asserts further that this is distinctive feature of Western culture. While it is true that military innovators of the early modern period did draw on classical models, it is much more likely that the development of assault infantry in early modern Europe is re-invention, as opposed to re-discovery. Similarly, heavy infantry assault was independently developed by disparate non-Western societies such as the Zulus and the medieval Japanese. I think Davis Hanson has identified something that is characteristically human, as opposed to characteristically Western.

⭐This is an excellent book about Greek hoplite warfare. It shows the reality of Ancient Greek wars and warriors. It explains that the hoplites were not young and muscular like most people believe. It also show the brutality of Greek warfare and how much it changed over time. The illustrations and maps complent the well written text. My only complaint is what does the author have against Alexander the Great? He compares him to Hitler and I don’t understand why. I guess he needs to realize like most readers of military history already does is that thoughts and attitudes about what is considered barbaric and what is considered just a way of life changes from time to time and place to place. What Alexander did really was not considered that brutal in his time. Look at what the Romans did on the battlefield and at home. The reason Hitler is considered barbaric and sick, which he was, is his reasons for killing were absurd and the amount of people he killed for those reasons woulld make any human being in that time and our time sick to their stomach. To truly understand what the reasons why some of the stuff that happened in wars happened is to understand how the people of the time lived and thought.

⭐I concur with a previous reviewer in that this book is well planned, researched, and provides excellent minutiae into the thoughts, background, and impetus of the Greek Hoplite. The background on armor and the social constraints leading to tactics and order of battle are excellent.However, the book was almost ruined for me as I read the closing pages of what can only be explained as a politically correct condemnation of Alexander as a degenerate alcoholic who was essentially lucky enough to inherit his father’s army. I can’t help but wonder how his prejudices might have affected his lack of depth and battle analysis concerning Alexander.His comparison of Alexander to Hitler left me dumbfounded. To hold ancient generals and politicians up the niceties of modern social standards is absurd.This book would have received 5 stars if the author had left the moralizing out of an otherwise excellent book. Having got that off my chest, I must recommend the book for the reasons stated in paragraph one.

⭐Lots Of Good Information

⭐Book as described – good purchase, would use again

Keywords

Free Download The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) in PDF format
The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) PDF Free Download
Download The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) 1999 PDF Free
The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) 1999 PDF Free Download
Download The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) PDF
Free Download Ebook The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare)