The Western Way of War

by Hanson, Victor Davis

• ISBN13: 9780520219113
• ISBN10: 0520219112
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-01
• Publisher: Univ of California Pr

Summary

Second Edition The Greeks of the classical age invented not only the central idea of Western politics--that the power of state should be guided by a majority of its citizens--but also the central act of Western warfare, the decisive infantry battle. Instead of ambush, skirmish, maneuver, or combat between individual heroes, the Greeks of the fifth century b.c. devised a ferocious, brief, and destructive head-on clash between armed men of all ages. In this bold, original study, Victor Davis Hanson shows how this brutal enterprise was dedicated to the same outcome as consensual government--an unequivocal, instant resolution to dispute. The Western Way of Wardraws from an extraordinary range of sources--Greek poetry, drama, and vase painting, as well as historical records--to describe what actually took place on the battlefield. It is the first study to explore the actual mechanics of classical Greek battle from the vantage point of the infantryman--the brutal spear-thrusting, the difficulty of fighting in heavy bronze armor which made it hard to see, hear and move, and the fear. Hanson also discusses the physical condition and age of the men, weaponry, wounds, and morale. This compelling account of what happened on the killing fields of the ancient Greeks ultimately shows that their style of armament and battle was contrived to minimize time and life lost by making the battle experience as decisive and appalling as possible. Linking this new style of fighting to the rise of constitutional government, Hanson raises new issues and questions old assumptions about the history of war.

Author Biography

Victor Davis Hanson is Professor of Classics at California State University, Fresno.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Preface	p. xv
Preface to the Second Edition	p. xxiii
Chronological Table	p. xxxi
The Greeks and Modern Warfare
Ordinary Things, Ordinary People	p. 3
A Western Way of War	p. 9
Not Strategy, Not Tactics	p. 19
The Hoplite and His Phalanx: War in an Agricultural Society	p. 27
Sources of Inquiry	p. 40
The Ordeal of the Hoplite
The Burden of Hoplite Arms and Armor	p. 55
The Old Men	p. 89
The Dread of Massed Attack	p. 96
The Triumph of Will
A Soldier's General	p. 107
Unit Spirit and Morale: The Origins of the Regimental System	p. 117
Drink	p. 126
Battle!
The Charge	p. 135
A Collision of Men	p. 152
Tears and Gaps	p. 160
The Push and Collapse	p. 171
Confusion, Misdirection, and Mob Violence	p. 185
Aftermath
The Killing Field	p. 197
The Wounded	p. 210
Epilogue	p. 219
Abbreviations of Ancient Authors and their Works Used in this Book	p. 229
Select Bibliography	p. 231
Supplementary Bibliography	p. 235
Index	p. 251
Index Locorum	p. 261
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