NIE TYLKO MACEDONIA? OŚRODKI INNOWACJI WOJSKOWYCH W GRECJI W IV W. PRZED CHR.
NOT ONLY MACEDON? CENTRES OF MILITARY INNOVATION IN THE 4TH C. B.C. GREECE

Summary/Abstract: The article aims at a presentation and analysis of ancient testimonies about the ongoing evolution of warfare in the 4th c. B.C. It appears that there is some discrepancy between modern views (or at least a majority of them) and the available sources. Some commanders (like Philip II of Macedon, and Epameinondas of Thebes) are credited with achievements that have a very limited basis in the ancient texts. Instead, it is probable that they were using, with great skill, equipment, and imagination, ideas that had been pioneered by others. Some of these are more famous (like Dionysius I of Syracuse), some slightly less so (Iphicrates, Jason of Pherae). However, we may suspect that some inventions, especially in the field of armaments, were taken from other peoples who were regarded by the Greeks as barbarians. Other inventions could have functioned in an earlier century. All of this strongly suggests an evolutionary (not revolutionary) model of development of Greek warfare.

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