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Men of Bronze: Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece Paperback – November 24, 2015

by Donald Kagan (Editor), Gregory F. Viggiano (Editor)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 49 ratings
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A major contribution to the debate over ancient Greek warfare by some of the world's leading scholars

Men of Bronze takes up one of the most important and fiercely debated subjects in ancient history and classics: how did archaic Greek hoplites fight, and what role, if any, did hoplite warfare play in shaping the Greek polis? In the nineteenth century, George Grote argued that the phalanx battle formation of the hoplite farmer citizen-soldier was the driving force behind a revolution in Greek social, political, and cultural institutions. Throughout the twentieth century scholars developed and refined this grand hoplite narrative with the help of archaeology. But over the past thirty years scholars have criticized nearly every major tenet of this orthodoxy. Indeed, the revisionists have persuaded many specialists that the evidence demands a new interpretation of the hoplite narrative and a rewriting of early Greek history. Men of Bronze gathers leading scholars to advance the current debate and bring it to a broader audience of ancient historians, classicists, archaeologists, and general readers.

After explaining the historical context and significance of the hoplite question, the book assesses and pushes forward the debate over the traditional hoplite narrative and demonstrates why it is at a crucial turning point. Instead of reaching a consensus, the contributors have sharpened their differences, providing new evidence, explanations, and theories about the origin, nature, strategy, and tactics of the hoplite phalanx and its effect on Greek culture and the rise of the polis.

The contributors include Paul Cartledge, Lin Foxhall, John Hale, Victor Davis Hanson, Donald Kagan, Peter Krentz, Kurt Raaflaub, Adam Schwartz, Anthony Snodgrass, Hans van Wees, and Gregory Viggiano.

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  1. Print length
    312 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  4. Publication date
    November 24, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0691168458
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0691168456
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"In no other work will readers find the foremost experts on Greek political and military history, including Paul Cartledge, Donald Kagan, Hans Van Wees, and Peter Krentz, together." ― Choice

"This book is geared to presenting the parameters of the hoplite debate in the clearest possible terms, a goal in which it succeeds. Anyone charged with teaching about hoplite warfare and its role in Greek history, let alone anyone doing original research on the subject, will find this book useful and necessary."---Matthew A. Sears, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"Men of Bronze carries the debate forward brilliantly and, in the process, illuminates many other facets of the archaic and classical Greek world."---William Shepherd, Anglo-Hellenic Review

Review

"This is the new hoplite book everyone has been waiting for―punchy, stimulating, up-to-date, and full of excitement and contention, like a hoplite scrum."―John Ma, University of Oxford

"Controversies of great interest surround the topic of hoplite warfare and its connections to Greek society and culture. The scholars contributing to this excellent volume include some of the best in the world. The chapters present often-divergent views on crucial issues. Scholars of Greek military history, war and society, and archaic Greece will want to consult this important collection."―Peter Hunt, University of Colorado, Boulder

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; Reprint edition (November 24, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691168458
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691168456
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 49 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
49 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Daniel Weitz
5.0 out of 5 stars How Much Hoplon Could A Hoplite Hump If A Hoplite Humped Hoplons?
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
Gregory Viggiano, a staunch defender of the hoplite warfare theories of Victor Davis Hanson , and the esteemed Donald Kagan assembled the arguments in this book, which are the papers delivered at a Yale conference.
It is centered around discussions of three crucial questions:
1)The origins of the tactics and weapons of hoplite warfare.
2)The political, social and economic significance of the above.
3)The impact of hoplite warfare on Greek culture.

There is an introductory chapter on the Hoplite debate by the above, which goes in to the historiography of the problem, which extends back to the early 19th century in the massive history by George Grote. The chapters are as follows:
Arms, Armor, and Iconography by Viggiano and Van Wees
Hoplitai/Politai refighting ancient battles by Cartledge
Chronology by Snodgrass
Greek infantry fighting in the Mediterranean context by Raaflaub
The Hoplite Revolution by Viggiano
How Hoplites fought by Krentz; in which he rejects most of the "orthodox" interpretations of hoplite warfare arguing for a slow transition that allowed individuals to fight with personal style with small groups or individuals rushing ahead to fight, rather than a slow advance and formation fighting.
"How Much Hoplon Could A Hoplite Hump If A Hoplite Humped Hoplons?"....Practical limitations of arms and equipment by Schwartz
Greek mercenaries by Hale
Archaeological evidence by Foxhall
Farmers and Hoplites by Van Wees
The Holite "Narrative" by Hanson

This is well-documented and beautifully illustrated.
22 people found this helpful
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Master Hahn
4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly Good
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2014
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Okay... not quite as good as I had expected (or as good as some others in this category), but still a decent comparison book.
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Arnold L. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars A seminar between two covers!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2013
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I was very interested in reading about different conclusions from experts on the How, the Why and the What With of classical Hoplite warfare. The different writers presented the case for their viewpoints logically, cogently and with great skill. I used to accept Victor Davis Hanson's position on the subject as that of THE expert, but after reading "Men of Bronze" I think that maybe he overstates his case in some areas. The contributors certainly brought in other factors, such the date of the sources, the different interpretations of the material, and evidence from contemporary sources in the Near East and Egypt. Do I know how Hoplite battles went? No, not at all, but I certainly have a lot more background on the subject. I wondered if Re-enactment Groups might have something to add to the subject.
12 people found this helpful
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Historian
5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable addition to the debate
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2013
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Although not really intended for the beginner to ancient Greek studies, for those readers who already have an active interest in the subject, this book is a delight. Consisting of a series of essays by the leading scholars in the field, the chief benefit of the book is that it presents very different and often conflicting interpretations for the origin and nature of hoplite conflict. The book will challenge you to think more deeply about the subject by considering these different and opposing views. In short, very much worth the money and time spent reading.
13 people found this helpful
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars It is THE starting point for investigating the origins of the Hoplite Phalanx.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018
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The entire text is an even handed exploration, from various points of view, of the origin of the Hoplite Phalanx. I highly reccomend this text to students of the classical era.
2 people found this helpful
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Lalla McGee
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read for a history nerd.
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2017
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More than you ever wanted to know about the controversy surrounding hoplite armor, how the hoplites fought and what, if any influence they had on the rise of the polis. If you are a history nerd this is a book for you!
4 people found this helpful
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M. Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, tightly written by a well-known expert
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2015
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Donald Kagen is an expert one can't argue with (unless one is another uninpeachable expert, I guess.) Good book, important ideas. Some of them are controversial, but this work is a must-have for those interested in hoplites and the progress of warfare throughout the ancient period in Greece.
5 people found this helpful
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Anton Moscovitch
5.0 out of 5 stars Lively debate of alternative views (and interpretation of the artistic ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2014
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Lively debate of alternative views (and interpretation of the artistic, historical and archeological record) regarding the rise of the hoplite way of war and its political antecedents/repercussions by some of the masters in the field. Both erudite and coherent, solid and eloquent.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

William F. Caton
4.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of essays and research papers, NOT a traditional “book”.
Reviewed in Canada on March 17, 2022
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It’s important to note that this is not a book by one author. It is a collection of essays and research papers discussing different components and attributes of hoplite warfare in Ancient Greece. As such, it is a great book!
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joe greenslade
5.0 out of 5 stars this book has been brilliant. It tidily sums up the history and current ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
As a postgraduate student focusing on ancient Greek warfare, this book has been brilliant. It tidily sums up the history and current state of the Hoplite debate, whilst providing thought provoking and engaging essays on the subject of Hoplite warfare. Each essay is written by a leading historian, and is properly referenced for parity and follow up purposes. A must have for a student studying ancient Greek warfare, yet also useful for the average historian with a bit of grounding in Greek history.

Great book!
3 people found this helpful
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T. Simpson
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2014
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Very much a collection of specialist journal articles written by the experts it makes for delightful reading.
2 people found this helpful
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JOHN
1.0 out of 5 stars VERY SMALL PRINT
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2020
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I GAVE THIS BOOK 1 STAR BECAUSE I FOUND IT HARD TO READ THE PRINT IS SO SMALL A WAIST OF PAPER ON ALL PAGES, SO HARD TO READ. REPEAT AFTER REPEAT ABOUT THE SAME THING SHIELDS THE SAME WORDS I JUST LOST THE WILL TO LIVE ABOUT 10 PAGES IN JUST BLOODY BORING.
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