The period from 1200 BC onwards saw vast changes in every aspect of life on both the Greek mainland and islands as monarchies disappeared and were replaced by aristocratic rule and a new form of community developed: the city-state.

Alongside these changes a new style of warfare developed which was to be the determining factor in land warfare in Greece until the defeat of the Greek city-state by the might of Macedonia at Chaeronea in 338 BC. This mode of warfare was based on a group of heavily armed infantrymen organized in a phalanx formation – the classic hoplite formation – and remained the system throughout the classical Greek period.

This up-to-date, illustrated guide details this pivotal period that saw the transition from the Bronze Age warriors of Homer to the origins of the men who fought the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars.

Raffaele D'Amato, PhD, is the author of some 40 books and has written numerous articles on the Roman Empire, Byzantium, medieval Europe and the military of Ancient Greece. He is an archaeological consultant and lawyer based in England.

Andrea Salimbeti has had a lifelong interest in ancient military historical research, in particular the Bronze Age in Greece and the Middle East. He has contributed to various Osprey titles including Warrior 180: Early Iron Age Greek Warrior 1100–700 BC.

Giuseppe Rava is an entirely self-taught, leading military history artist.