Athenian military strategy book

In contrast to the athenian grand strategy of exhaustion, based on athens s economic power, sparta followed a grand strategy of annihilation centered around spartan military might. Selected as a financial times best book of 20 in strategy. Athenian and spartan grand strategies in the peloponesian war. The athenian military was the military force of athens, one of the major citystates of ancient greece. The five greatest military strategists of all time the. A senior athenian statesman and general of the peloponnesian war, pericles provided athens a central figure whose genius and understanding of the nature of strategy contributed greatly to the growth of the athenian empire. The battle of marathon in northeastern attica is one of historys earliest recorded battles.

In this brilliant book, sir nigel bagnall sets out to analyze and clarify the war. If youre a fan of alternate history, give this book a try. Historically famous chinese military general and philosopher sun tzu shares his wisdom and expertise in what became one of the worlds founding manuals on military strategy. Bred for battleunderstanding ancient spartas military machine. The military of ancient athens was composed by its own citizens. This book follows the political and military activity of one athenian statesman. Scholars have also admired the texts deep political and military dimensions. The best books on military strategy five books expert.

At the initial phase of the war, athens was so much stronger that the spartan strategy could not work, resulting in a fairly easy initial victory for the athenians. Alcibiadess decoy force blue lures the spartan fleet black out to sea. A model of scholarly writing at its best, and a gem of a book. It includes offensive testudos thought by some to be just a defensive formation. Greek naval actions always took place near the land so they could easily return to land to eat and to sleep, and allowing the greek ships to stick to narrow waters to outmaneuver the opposing fleet.

With diligence and reflection, readers can discern relevant lessons and wisdom from thucydidess the history of the peloponnesian war. The great strategic dilemma for both athens and sparta during the second peloponnesian war was how to bring their strength to bear against each other. Conon began his career in the athenian navy in the years. Focus on the war plans of athens and persia, their execution or failure to execute. Best books on ancient greek history and literature. The athenian defense strategy recognizing the supremacy of spartas infantry, the athenians, under the leadership of pericles, decided it was in their best interest to take a defensive strategy. This book is about how the war was fought, from the use of hoplites, cavalry and the navy to athenian and spartan strategy. Texts about military strategy take us back into the mists of time but what it is, and what the nature of war is, remains hotly debated. Major fighting in the peloponnesian war occurred from 431421 and ended in athenian victory. The grand strategy of classical sparta tells the old stories in a new light, from the spartan point of view. A history, sir lawrence freedman, one of the worlds leading authorities on war and international politics, captures the vast history of strategic thinking, in a consistently engaging and insightful account of how strategy came to pervade every aspect of our lives.

Chapter 3 empires and cultures of the ancient world. The authors argue that, at the onset of the war the athenians had a coherent grand strategic vision, developed by pericles, which likely would have brought them. Oxford university press, new york, 2017, 224 pages. Like plato, xenophon is an authority on socrates, about whom he wrote several books of dialogues the memorabilia and an apology of socrates to the jury, which recounts the philosophers trial in 399 bc. How the athenians and spartans fought the peloponnesian. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. In order to counter new offensive strategies and to protect vital local sources of revenue, the athenians instituted a system of territorial defense, based on massive frontier fortresses and a sophisticated signal network. The long walls were a key element of athenian military strategy, since they provided the city with a constant link to the sea and thwarted sieges conducted by land alone.

Nor does the athenian chronicler spell out his ideas with the clarity of a wylie. John lewis gaddis explores history for answers to grand strategy. Managing uncertainty, opportunity, and enterprise by j. They would use their naval supremacy to attack strategic ports along the peloponnese while relying on the high citywalls of athens to keep the spartans out. Third, thucydides was the first grand strategist, and he remains one of the best to write about the subject. Individual chapters treat athens postwar economic situations, the development of. We can distinguish the land army into 3 main forces. Thrasybulus and theramenes bring their squadrons in behind the spartans to cut off their retreat towards cyzicus, while alcibiades turns to face the pursuing force. While perhaps at times rather too rosy about athenian democracy, and the life of the poleis in general, this is a good read for anyone interested in the roots of democracy or the golden age. Antulio echevarria ii of the us army war college talks us through key books, both old and new, on military strategy. Joseph bottum, books and culture rahe sets the story in a complicated geopolitical context, with a large cast of characters connected through a series of shifting alliances.

The persian war was the war of the greeks and the persians. It consists of 17 case studies that range from fifthcentury. War, strategy and international politics oxford university press. This book shows the main battle tactics employed by the most powerful war like empire. Grand strategies in the peloponnesian war and their. Theorist of war us naval war college digital commons. Conflicts between the two cites dated back further, however, with skirmishes from 460445 effectively ending in a draw. Bringing national forces to bear during the second peloponnesian war. His book is an indictment of athenian direct democracy after pericless death. Themistocles, an athenian military leader, urges athens to create a navy after their win at marathon. Several similarities existed between them, suggesting that the mindset of the greeks flowed naturally between the two forms of fighting. The greek navy functioned much like the ancient greek army. His achievements included the construction of the acropolis, begun in 447. Considered one of the first if not the first military writers that separate the earthly doing with the godly one, as in this battle was lost due to insert human action not.

Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Athenian democracy at war throws a good deal of fresh light on the military aspects of athenian democracy, and reminds us that historically despite the claims of some pundits democracies very often have made war, even against each other, and can be imperialistic. A video comparing the strategies of athens and sparta over the course of the 27yearlong peloponnesian war. Bred for battleunderstanding ancient spartas military.

The peloponnesian war is a 491page account of the ancient conflict between athens and sparta and their allies during the 5th century b. The central statement that strategy is a pervasive and enduring aspect of human history describes the theory, practice, and predictions surrounding the study of strategy posited by colin gray in his 2015 book, the future of strategy. The peloponnesian war between the citystates of athens and sparta and their respective allies lasted from 431404 bc. Here are the best strategy books for entrepreneurs and managers. Democracys beginning, is also available as an e book, isbn 9780300217353.

To help narrow down the choices, weve put together a list of 15 strategic management books to help you gain the muchneeded competitive edge in this highly competitive world. Most writing about strategy has focused on individual strategic theorists or great military leaders. Pericles, athenian statesman largely responsible for the full development, in the later 5th century bce, of both the athenian democracy and the athenian empire, making athens the political and cultural focus of greece. I cant comment on the military strategy since that is not something i am knowledgable about. This book focuses instead on the messy processes by which rulers and states have framed strategy in the past a subject of vital practical importance to strategists, and of great interest to students of strategy and statecraft. Despite being born an athenian citizen, xenophon was also associated with sparta. It was largely similar to other armies of the region see ancient greek warfare.

This book is a useful start point for any student of strategy, strategic history, and for those who seek to understand its foundation, formulation, and fallibility. Sun tzu and clausewitz are known as the fathers to eastern. The foreign policy research institute is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national. Finn on platias and koliopoulos, thucydides on strategy. After all, one cannot blame a strategy or criticize leaders, even if they fail, without showing a superior alternative.

Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war is a book that all who. This book analyzes the defense policy of athens in the period after the peloponnesian war. Although billed as a history for general readers, the book is a comprehensive account, spanning the 27 years of the war as well as a postwar epilogue discussing its impacts in both short and long term. Sparta, a land power, nor athens, a naval power, had a clear strategy for victory. The greeks success on land easily translated onto the sea. In other words, as long as we define political objectives, match a grand strategy to meet them, integrate a military strategy with the grand strategy, interact with an enemy, avoid overextension, and a whole range of themes commonly studied by strategists today. Athenian strategy in the peloponnesian war athens fleet and fortifications made its urban center impregnable to direct attack. The book was thucydides the peloponnesian war, a history of the 5thcentury bc geopolitical and military contest. Masterfully crafted and surprisingly modern, thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war has long been celebrated as an insightful, eloquent, and exhaustively detailed work of classical greek history. The top 15 strategic management books startup grind.

Praise the best account of the peloponnesian war now available. The five greatest military strategists of all time. Grand strategy is the art of using a states political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and military tools to advance its interests. It starts in ionia greek polis rebelling with the help of athens. Sparta made demands, which athens rejected, initiated the conflict and. Greek naval actions always took place near the land so they could easily return to land to eat and to sleep, and allowing the greek ships to stick to. The definitive translations of the complete writings of miyamoto musashi japans greatest samurai. The hoplites were the main decisive force in each and every battle that took plac. Accordingly, professors of antiquity, international relations, military history. Athenian strategic culture was initially shaped by ideals and values.