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Victor Davis Hanson
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The Wars of the Ancient Greeks and Their Invention of Western Military Culture (The Cassell history of Warfare) Hardcover – December 31, 1999

by Victor Davis Hanson (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
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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.
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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Cassell
  4. Publication date
    December 31, 1999
  5. Dimensions
    8 x 1 x 11 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0304352225
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0304352227
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cassell; First Edition (December 31, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0304352225
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0304352227
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 1 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the author

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Victor Davis Hanson

Victor Davis Hanson

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Victor Davis Hanson is a senior fellow in military history and classics at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a professor emeritus of classics at California State University, Fresno. He is the author of over two dozen books, including The Second World Wars, The Dying Citizen, and The End of Everything. He lives in Selma, California.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
25 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SH
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018
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One of the best books I have read. Explains a great deal about cultural changes in Greece.
One person found this helpful
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Barret
5.0 out of 5 stars Greek history lover
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
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Great book and I love Greek history
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Ted Garvin
4.0 out of 5 stars This ebook has some typos in it, but nothing ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017
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This ebook has some typos in it, but nothing to prevent it from being informative.

Author of  The Futility of Vengeance: Doggerland Reimagined
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Tullos G, Coston
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2015
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Outstanding!
2 people found this helpful
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Pear Choo Hiang
5.0 out of 5 stars Good reference for Ancient Greek and Western Art of War
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2000
Professor Victor Davis Hanson has written a broad but vivid account of the Ancient Greek Military Legacy, covering a millennium of warfare from the development of the city-states, to the Persian War; from the Peloponnesian War to the late Hellenistic states; to the coming of Rome. It has good and unique insights of Greek Military development right from Mycenaean Greece to the Revolution of Philip II of Macedon.
Weaponry, body-armor, field tactics and the unique Greek (Western) cultural background were discussed along the way to chart the course of this military development. Tracing the evolution of Greek fighting from Homeric times, where military confrontation was still a matter of raiding and plundering (also a possible reference to the Trojan conflict?), the many huge Mycenaean palaces were seen as a defensive dead-end strategy. After the dark ages, Hanson gave detail foundation for the coming of the Hoplite, mainly the agrarian duels between small `polis' settlements driven by it's many political and cultural dimensions. Arguments and reasons for the rise of the Hoplite is put forward and these are provoking and should be of interest to any military enthusiast. Description of the Hoplite battle formation and fighting are thoughtful and full of insights. Warfare as an integral part of Greek lifestyle is skillfully pictured with mentions of famous names like Sophocles, Socrates to Aeschylus who at one time or another fought as a Hoplite. There is even a list of clearly `defined rules" of fighting presented which is a pleasure to read.
Hoplite technology and thereby the Western mode of warfare finally came of age with the emergence of Athenian and Spartan military power, especially seen in the successful defense of Greece against the Persian invaders. Unfortunately, this soon cumulated into the disastrous Peloponnesian War and gave birth to the new concept of `total warfare' - warfare that is singularly decisive, destructive and overwhelming in death toll and the scale of participant's resource. The second evolution is that of the Macedonian phalanxes, refined by Philip and Alexander into an all-conquering army. Not too much new material is given here as many of the battles and details are well known but the graphics are well illustrated and clear. Yet for all the smooth flowing of this book, there are lacks. The development of warfare in other city-states like Thebes and the late Hellenistic kingdoms are not given enough attention. Naval warfare tactics featured little in this book as seen in the battle of Marathon and Plataea being well illustrated and discussed but not the sea battle of Salamis. The end conclusion of Greek warfare in relation to Western military cultural is engaging but too short thereby needing further elaboration. Still, it's an excellent reference of Ancient Greek warfare given the extensiveness of the scope.
6 people found this helpful
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Kakavas Alex
3.0 out of 5 stars The book that cant stand the test of reason
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2000
The book is well illustrated, documented and fairly accurate. Yet there are (at least) two weak points, which you can find to Keegan's books as well. Stating that the ancient Greeks invented what was to become a standard feature of western warfare, is half true. The hoplite phalanx was a style of warfare invented by the Khares, and inherited partially from Greek's Mycenean ancestors who had formed a phalanx very much like the one used by Alexander. The reason behind the phalanx was to keep the troopers under firm control and prevent the appearance of ''the fog of the battle''. It was a way of war that only free men, defending their freedom along with their equals would suffer. It had not dominated because of the spirit or the genes but because of the democracy. The Greeks never loved Mars (or war). Their most respected god was Athena, the embodiment of wisdom. Second weak point: When Alexander conquered the Persian empire was at his late twenties. By this time he had defeated in battle every army that stood against him and destroyed the strongest empire. What 28 year-old man would not ''overreact to glory''? In all the reading i have done, i found that Alexanders army was one of the least barbaric (in attitude). Certainly his attrocities can't compare to the ones made by the Romans, the Assyrians, or the Crusaders. I would suggest that Mr. Hanson should find one great general or one victorious army that hadn't killed innocents by the thousands, before calling Alexander a drunk. We are talking here about an era when the most succesfull way of avoiding long sieges, was to destroy the less defended cities. History is one of the few issues that we have to respect. Using the ancient Greeks civilisation as a mean to justify western-centric theories and western-profit policies is a shame.
16 people found this helpful
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George H. Ruiz
5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible overview of Greek military develpment
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2000
Hanson does an admirable job of explaining the development and rise to prominence of the Greek military machine. He details the evolution of the early Greek warrior from the farmer-soldier hoplite to the professional mercenary phalangite. A lot of historical, social and economic material is breezily presented in an easy to understand manner which makes reading this scholarly work more like enjoying a good novel.
Hanson will take a stand on the actions of the Greeks he's reporting on as well. His attack on Alexander the Great's campaign in Persia makes one rethink the popular view of the famous general ("an alcoholic murderer").
The book also contains many pictures of Greek weapons and armor along with detailed graphics of the movemnt of armies in some the the more significant Greek battles. This is a handsome and informative book for anyone interested in military history.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

doug page-croft
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2021
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Lots Of Good Information
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Grimswold
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2018
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Book as described - good purchase, would use again
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