Light Infantry of the Greek and Roman World : Forgotten Heroes of Ancient Warfare.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Du Plessis, Jean Charl.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Military history, Ancient.

Weapons, Ancient.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (257 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Pen and Sword 2024

Havertown : Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2024.

Summary:

This book explores the role and significance of light infantry in ancient Greek and Roman warfare. Jean Charl Du Plessis delves into the various types of light infantry, such as archers, slingers, and peltasts, highlighting their arms, armor, and tactical functions. The author examines historical battles and campaigns, emphasizing the often-overlooked contributions of these lightly armed troops in achieving military successes. Intended for scholars and enthusiasts of military history, the book provides a detailed analysis of the tactical evolution and battlefield effectiveness of light infantry, supported by experimental archaeology and historical assessments. Generated by AI.

Contents:

Cover

Book Title

Copyright

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Identifying the Light Infantry

1.1 The Term 'Light' as a Tactical Function

1.2 Light Infantry Terminology - Collective Terms

1.2.1 Psiloi

1.2.2 Euzōnoi

1.2.3 Gymnētēs

1.2.4 Leves

1.3 Light Infantry as a Collective Term

Part I: Light Infantry Troop Types

Chapter 2 Archers: Toxotai/Sagittarii

Archers

2.1 Arms and Armour

2.1.1 The Bow

2.1.2 Quivers and the Arrows

2.1.3 Defensive Equipment

2.2 Archers in Combat

2.3 Conclusion on Archers

Chapter 3 Stone Throwers: Sphendónitai/Funditores and Lithoboloi

Slingers

3.1 Arms and Armour

3.1.1 The Sling

3.1.2 Slingshot

3.1.3 Kestros/Cestrus

3.1.4 Lithoboloi

3.2 Slingers and Stone-throwers in Combat

3.3 Conclusion on Slingers and Stone Throwers

Chapter 4 The Javelin and the Peltast

Akontistai

4.1 Arms and Armour of the Akontistai

4.1.1 Javelin and the Throwing S

4.1.2 Protective Gear

Classical Peltast

4.2 Arms and Armour of the Peltasts

4.2.1 The Peltē

4.2.2 Thracian Cloak

4.2.3 Javelins/Throwing Spears

4.2.4 Swords

The Reforms of Iphicrates

4.3 Arms and Armour of the Iphicratic Peltast

4.3.1 The Iphicratic Peltē

4.3.2 Iphicratic Spear

4.3.3 Sword

4.3.4 Linen armour

4.3.5 Iphicratids

4.4 The Javelinmen and Peltasts in Combat

4.5 Conclusion on Javelinmen and Peltasts

Chapter 5 The Multi-Purpose Hybrids of the Hellenistic Era

Hellenistic Elite Guard Peltast

5.1 Arms and Armour of the Guard Peltast

5.1.1 Heavy Armed Peltast

5.1.2 Light-Armed Guard Peltast

5.2 The Elite Guard Peltasts in Combat

5.3 Conclusion on the Hellenistic Peltasts

Thureophoroi and Thōrakitai

5.3 Arms and Armour of the Thureophoroi

5.3.1 Thureos

5.3.2 Dóru Spear

5.3.3 Sword

5.3.4 Armour.

5.3.5 The Thōrakitai

5.4 Thureophoroi and Thōrakitai at War

5.5 Conclusion on the Thureophoroi and Thōrakitai

Roman Velites/Grosphomachoi

5.6 Arms and Armour of the Velites/Grosphomachoi

5.6.1 The Grosphus Javelin

5.6.2 Gladius Hispaniensis

5.6.3 Parma Shield

5.6.4 Helmet

5.7 Velites/Grosphomachoi at War

5.8 Conclusion on the Velites/Grosphomachoi

Plates

Chapter 6 Elite Light Troops of the Greek and Roman World

The Cretan Mercenaries

6.2 Cretan Arms and Armour

6.2.1 The Bow

6.2.2 Shields

6.2.3 Body Armour

6.2.4 Other Equipment

6.3 Cretans at War

6.4 Conclusions on the Cretans

Balearic Slingers

6.5 Arms of the Balearics

6.5.1 The Sling

6.5.2 Slingshot

6.5.3 Defensive Equipment and Secondary Weapons

6.6 Balearics at War

6.7 Conclusion on Balearic Slingers

Chapter 7 Battle Assessment

7.1 Sparta's Disastrous Defeat at Sphacteria, 425 BC

7.1.1 The Battle of Sphacteria

7.1.2 Battle Assessment

7.2 Antiochus' Crossing of Mount Labus, 210 BC

7.2.1 The Battle of Mount Labus

7.2.2 Battle Assessment

7.3 The Galatian Campaign, 189 BC - Roman Victory in the Mountains

7.3.1 The Battle of Mount Olympus in Anatolia

7.3.2 The Battle of Ancyra

7.3.3 Battle Assessment

7.4 Conclusion on the Battle Assessments

Chapter 8 Experimental Archaeology

Javelin and Throwing Strap

8.1 Throwing the Javelin with the Ankylē/Amentum Throwing Strap

8.1.1 The Ankylē/Amentum Throwing Strap

8.1.2 Method and Materials

8.1.3 Conclusion on Throwing the Javelin with the Throwing Strap

The Sling and Slingshot

8.2 The Lethality and Damage Potential of the Sling

8.2.1 Method and Materials

8.2.2 Calculating the Severity of the Injury through Blunt Criterion (BC)and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)

8.2.3 Projectile Impact upon Armour.

8.2.4 Conclusion on the Sling

The Bow and Arrow

8.3 Arrowheads: The Cretan Archer vs the Persian Bowman

8.3.1 Materials

8.3.2 Method and Results

8.3.3 Conclusion on the Arrowheads

Chapter 9 Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Part of the metadata in this record was created by AI, based on the text of the resource.

Other Format:

Print version: du Plessis, Jean Charl Light Infantry of the Greek and Roman World

ISBN:

9781399081511

1399081519

OCLC:

1451801637