The Classical Art of Command: Eight Greek Generals Who Shaped the History of Warfare

Roisman, Joseph

ISBN 10: 0199985820 / ISBN 13: 9780199985821

Published by Oxford University Press, 2017

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Classical Art of Command: Eight Greek Generals Who Shaped the History of Warfare
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199985820
• ISBN 13: 9780199985821
• Binding: hardcover
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

This book uniquely looks at the many facets of Greek generalship through the individual careers of some of the best-known Greek commanders. They include the Spartan king Leonidas, who embodied his countrymen's heroic ethos in the battle of Thermopylae against the Persian invader; 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, Sicily, 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 book describes the nature of these leaders' command and the mark they left on Greek history and warfare. It draws attention to the important role that personality played in their leadership, which justifies investigating Greek generalship through the individual careers of commanders. The book discusses how these generals designed and executed military campaigns and strategy, and to what degree they were responsible for the results. The book also looks at how far 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 the aforementioned generals outstanding shapers of Greek military history. The book will appeal to readers who are new to, but interested in, ancient warfare and generalship. Original observations and analyses, in addition to informative notes and bibliography, should make the book attractive to experts too.

About the Author

Joseph Roisman is a Professor of Classics at Colby College. Among his major publications are monographs and anthologies on Alexander the Great, ancient Macedonia, the Athenian general Demosthenes, and Greek rhetoric. He has also written numerous articles on Greek history, historiography, and drama. He has been the recipient of research fellowships in the US and overseas.