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This study of the Athenian strategia is concerned with identifying the locus of military authority in the Athenian polis. Consideration of the role played by generals in the deliberative and final stages of military expeditions and of the relationship between strategoi and their subordinates, colleagues, and the Athenian demos itself suggests that Athens' generals did not exercise significant authority over their city's military operations. Rather, the demos controlled its generals both by means of its direct involvement in decision-making related to campaigns and by establishing in Athens a climate of fear which was very often sufficient to dissuade generals from acting in opposition to the Athenians' will. This volume is important reading for anyone who is interested in ancient military history or the question of sovereignty in Athens.
The Classical Art of Command by Joseph Roisman Pdf
The Classical Age of Greece produced some of history's best-known generals and commanders. They include the Spartan king Leonidas, who embodied his countrymen's heroic ethos in the battle of Thermopylae; the Athenian leader Themistocles, credited as the architect of Athens' naval power and of the Greek victory over the Persians; the famous democratic leader, Pericles, who prepared Athens and directed its conflict with Sparta, known as the Peloponnesian War; the Athenian general Demosthenes, who deviated from contemporary conventions of warfare with his innovative approach; the Spartan general Lysander, who won the Peloponnesian War for Sparta; Dionysius I of Syracuse, arguably the most innovative and best skilled of the eight generals discussed in this book; and Epaminondas and Pelopidas who together transformed their city, Thebes, into an hegemonic power. The Classical Art of Command gives readers a unique opportunity to examine the variegated nature of Greek generalship through the individual careers of eight prominent commanders. It describes the attributes of these leaders' command, the many facets of their individual careers and stratagems, and the mark they left on Greek history and warfare. It draws attention to the important role that personality played in their leadership. Joseph Roisman investigates how these generals designed and executed military campaigns and strategy, and to what degree they were responsible for the results. The volume also looks at how the Greek art of command changed during the Classical Age, and how adaptable it was to different military challenges. Other questions involve the extent to which a general was a mere leader of the charge, a battle director, or a strategist, and what made both ancient and modern authorities regard these eight generals as outstanding shapers of military history. Filled with original analyses and accessible accounts of legendary battles, The Classical Art of Command will appeal to all readers with an interest in ancient warfare and generalship.
The Great War Between Athens And Sparta: A Companion To The Military History Of Thucydides by Dr. Bernard W. Henderson Pdf
As “a companion to the military history of Thucydides,” this learned and thoughtful treatise by a well-known Oxford tutor is assured of a hearty welcome. For Dr. Henderson, in retelling the story of the most famous of all wars, gives the essence of many commentaries on Thucydides, with numerous maps and plans, and also cites recent parallels to the old campaigns. Thucydides is so modern in his outlook that this method of treatment is not merely permissible but entirely appropriate. Dr. Henderson has a vivacious style and enters heartily into the spirit of the many dramatic episodes, such as Cleon’s victory at Sphacteria, or the desecrating of the “Herniae” on the very eve of the sailing of the expedition to Syracuse, or the condemnation of the Athenian generals after their last great sea-victory at Arginusae. Even those who think that they know their Thucydides well may learn a good deal from the book. And the implied lesson of the crimes and follies that an uncontrolled democracy can commit—comes out stronger than ever.—The Spectator Archive
The General Demosthenes and His Use of Military Surprise by Joseph Roisman Pdf
The Athenian general Demosthenes, who fought in the Peleponnesian war, used surprise in all his military operations. Chiefly because of this reason he has sometimes been labeled as an original thinker, if not a misunderstood genius. This study asks whether Demosthenes deserved the accolades that have charaterized much of the modern studies of the general and his age. The investigation identifies what factors were responsible for Demosthenes' successes and failures, and draws attention to the hitherto unnoticed contributors to the general's victories. The study points to Demosthenes' inclination to take great risks, his uncompromising belief in the effectiveness of surprise in war, and his readiness to ignore objective difficulties in pursuing his goals. In addition, Demosthenes' campaigns indicate a narrow perception of military problems, a tendency to give up rather easily when things were not going according to plan and an inability to lead an orderly retreat.
Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens by Josiah Ober Pdf
This book asks an important question often ignored by ancient historians and political scientists alike: Why did Athenian democracy work as well and for as long as it did? Josiah Ober seeks the answer by analyzing the sociology of Athenian politics and the nature of communication between elite and nonelite citizens. After a preliminary survey of the development of the Athenian "constitution," he focuses on the role of political and legal rhetoric. As jurymen and Assemblymen, the citizen masses of Athens retained important powers, and elite Athenian politicians and litigants needed to address these large bodies of ordinary citizens in terms understandable and acceptable to the audience. This book probes the social strategies behind the rhetorical tactics employed by elite speakers. A close reading of the speeches exposes both egalitarian and elitist elements in Athenian popular ideology. Ober demonstrates that the vocabulary of public speech constituted a democratic discourse that allowed the Athenians to resolve contradictions between the ideal of political equality and the reality of social inequality. His radical reevaluation of leadership and political power in classical Athens restores key elements of the social and ideological context of the first western democracy.
