Product Description

Although Sparta's early history is not clear, by the end of the 8th century most of the other cities of Lakedaimon had been reduced to subject status. The Lakedaimonians were the only full time army in ancient Greece and were thus truly an elite force. The institutions of the state and the system of education were organised with a view to creating superbly trained soldiers. Nick Sekunda examines this unique military machine in this book describing the organisational systems of the Spartan army through the Hellenistic period, how they were trained, the battles they fought, and the society that produced them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #411259 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-11
• Released on: 1998-11-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

From the Publisher
An unrivalled illustrated reference source on fighting men and commanders, past and present. Each volume is packed with full colour artwork, making military history uniquely accessible to enthusiasts of all ages.

About the Author
Nicholas Sekunda was born in 1953. After studying Ancient History and Archaeology at Manchester University, he went on to take his Ph.D. in 1981. He has taken part in archaeological excavations in Poland, Iran and Greece, participated in a research project on ancient Persian warfare for the British institute of Persian Studies. He has published numerous books and academic articles, and is currently teaching at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology in Torun, Poland.

Customer Reviews

Good Pamphlet
This book has good information, but is small. I would actual only consider it a pamphlet. Was expecting a little more but overall it is a good basic review of the Spartans with a few good illustrations.

Beyond Thermopylae
This title takes the reader past the infamous Battle of Thermopylae and examines the whole Spartan military system from its gradual birth in the 8th Century BC until its decline in the 4th. It captures numerous interesting details-like the poems of Tyrtaios and the brutal treatment of the helots. The 12 color plates are good, but would have looked better if by Angus McBride or Christa Hook. Overall it is a good source on this brutal warrior society and the state they fought to maintain for centuries.

????
"At some point during the 5th Century...the Lakedaimonian army decided to discard their cuirasses.... In due course other Greek armies followed the Lakedaimonian lead and abandoned their heavy body armour. This situation continued into the 360s...." (p. 28)

Well, that's news. If anyone out there can confirm by appropriate citations (there are none in this pamphlet)that Greek hoplites did not wear armor in, say, the 2nd Peloponnesian War, or at Cunaxa, please let me know, will you? Until I get some confirmation for this amazing statement, I will regard it as one of the biggest bits of nonsense I have ever read.

I find equally astonishing the view that the Spartans, unlike all the other Greeks, continued to wear the muscle cuirass, not segmented armor. "It must be admitted we are dealing with a rather small sample of evidence" says the book. Maybe common sense could occasionally play a part as well, dear author??

This book now has an honored place in my local landfill.