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Traditionally hoplites were not professional [[soldier]]s, but often men of ordinary professions. They would purchase their own armor, which could lie unused for years, and the quality of the armor would reflect the material wealth of the bearer. They would be summoned to fight in the event of their city going to war. Hoplite warfare often consisted of "pushing matches" when one hoplite formation would try to push back the opposing hoplite formation. During these realtively short pushing matches, causalities were usually light, and since the leaders/generals would often be in the front rank, the outcome of the battle would be strategically decisive. Heavy infantry hoplites were especially against the Persian army which contained no heavy infantry to speak of. Even the "heavy infantry" 10,000 immortals wore a light metal scale tunic, and wielded wicker shields not suited to hand to hand combat. In the case of the Battle of Marathon, due to their thick bronze armor the Athenians often crushed the Persian troops to death.

Traditionally hoplites were not professional [[soldier]]s, but often men of ordinary professions. They would purchase their own armor, which could lie unused for years, and the quality of the armor would reflect the material wealth of the bearer. They would be summoned to fight in the event of their city going to war. Hoplite warfare often consisted of "pushing matches" when one hoplite formation would try to push back the opposing hoplite formation. During these realtively short pushing matches, causalities were usually light, and since the leaders/generals would often be in the front rank, the outcome of the battle would be strategically decisive. Heavy infantry hoplites were especially against the Persian army which contained no heavy infantry to speak of. Even the "heavy infantry" 10,000 immortals wore a light metal scale tunic, and wielded wicker shields not suited to hand to hand combat. In the case of the Battle of Marathon, due to their thick bronze armor the Athenians often crushed the Persian troops to death.

Possibly the most renowned hoplites were those of the city of [[Sparta]] on the [[Peloponnese]], who famously wore scarlet red capes. Trained from birth these warriors were professionals, rather than the levied troops of their fellow Grecian cities. They were famous for their courage and their skill, but could often commit acts we would today consider atrocities. Their most famous hour was arguably the [[Battle of Thermopylae]].  

Possibly the most renowned hoplites were those of the city of [[Sparta]] on the [[Peloponnese]], who famously wore scarlet red capes and kept their hair long. Trained from birth these warriors were professionals, rather than the levied troops of their fellow Grecian cities. They were famous for their courage and their skill, but could often commit acts we would today consider atrocities. Their most famous hour was arguably the [[Battle of Thermopylae]]. The terrain of Thermopylae suited the phalanx formation perfectly, as the narrow confines of the pass meant that the [[Persia]]n's superior numbers could not be brought to bear, nor could the vulnerable flanks of the phalanx be exploited by the Persian cavalry.

The terrain of Thermopylae suited the phalanx formation perfectly, as the narrow confines of the pass meant that the [[Persia]]n's superior numbers could not be brought to bear, not could the vulnerable flanks of the phalanx be exploited by the Persian cavalry.

 

The phalanx was further developed by the Macedonians and their successors into the sarrissa.

The traditional Greek-style phalanx was superseded by the Macedonian-style phalanx under Philip II, who was the father of Alexander the Great. The main improvement was use of the sarissa, a long pike as opposed to the shorter spear used by the Greek states.

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