Originally posted by AThousandYoungIt was developed to stop knights. It was ineffective against Spanish swordsmen, who nimbly ran in among the pikes and wreaked havoc with short swords, much like the legionaries. Balanced armies would have pike (often supplied by Swiss mercenaries), shot and horse. Artillery became very important, too.
The Phalanx was rendered obsolete by Roman Legionnaires from what I understand. How come it came to be so powerful later on in the form of Swiss Pikemen? Did technology or tactics change?
In between the Renaissance and the Roman Empire, tactics changed--regular armies were replaced by feudal armies. The phalanx came back when feudal armies started being replaced by professionals.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageYou know I didn't know that the Sumerians and the Greeks were under constant attack from knights.
It was developed to stop knights. It was ineffective against Spanish swordsmen, who nimbly ran in among the pikes and wreaked havoc with short swords, much like the legionaries. Balanced armies would have pike (often supplied by Swiss mercenaries), shot and horse. Artillery became very important, too.
In between the Renaissance and the Roman Empire ...[text shortened]... feudal armies. The phalanx came back when feudal armies started being replaced by professionals.
The OP's questions can mostly be answered here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_formation