Ancient Greece was made up of several hundred city-states. City-states consisted of a main city or town and the villages around it. Each one was ruled by a powerful noble. Sometimes a noble was overthrown by a tyrant, someone who took power although he had no right to do so. By about 500 BC, each city-state had its own army. Sometimes city-states would form alliances with each other, and sometimes they would wage war with each other over territory and trade.

Sparta

One of the most formidable armies belonged to the city-state of Sparta in the south of Greece. When the Classical Age began in Greece, the city-state of Athens was a haven for thinkers and artists. To the Spartans, however, the important thing was to make war.

Most of the Greek armies were made up of young men who trained as soldiers for two years after they left school. They were called up to join the army if there was a war (when they were known as conscripts). The Spartans, however, had a full-time army who were always ready to fight.

Battle tactics

All Greek armies fought in a phalanx formation. The soldiers formed closely packed rows so that their shields partly protected their neighbour. Then they advanced on the enemy. The first few rows held their spears out in front of them so they could strike the enemy from a distance. The close formation made them difficult targets, so the phalanx was a very effective way of fighting.