Legion versus Phalanx

The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World

By: Myke Cole

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Taking a populist approach to a serious subject, Myke Cole combines a novelist's flair for drama with an ancient historian's eye for detail to create a unique book that delves into one of the most popular areas of the Ancient World.

From the time of Ancient Sumeria, the heavy infantry phalanx dominated the battlefield. Armed with spears or pikes, standing shoulder to shoulder with shields interlocking, the men of the phalanx presented an impenetrable wall of wood and metal to the enemy. Until, that is, the Roman legion emerged to challenge them as masters of infantry battle.

Covering the period in which the legion and phalanx clashed (280 - 168 BC), Myke Cole delves into their tactics, arms and equipment, organization and deployment. Drawing on original primary sources to examine six battles in which the legion fought the phalanx - Heraclea (280 BC), Asculum (279 BC), Beneventum (275 BC), Cynoscephalae (197 BC), Magnesia (190 BC), and Pydna (168 BC) - he shows how and why the Roman legion, with its flexible organization, versatile tactics and iron discipline, came to eclipse the hitherto untouchable Hellenistic phalanx and dominate the ancient battlefield.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Myke Cole (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Military history with a plot

I've often wondered about the transition from Greek to Roman cultural dominance. Cole explains it through analysis of their institutionalized fighting styles, and along the way, tells some gripping tales of the personalities involved.

You would have to really be interested...

I gave up six chapters in. Perhaps because I wasn't interested enough I couldn't visualize or track what the author was describing. Also I found the writing style and the narrator to be arrogant which also made it difficult to listen to.

Enjoyable and informative

As a person who enjoys history but is not a scholar , I found this book informative regarding the combat of the time and the explanation of the politics. Or what was happening at that time in the region. It was not overly long explanations I feel just enough to make it interesting. The author seemed to go to great lengths in staying what was fact and what was conjecture . I believe if you are interested in this period of our history you will enjoy this book

Great book! Wish there were battle illustrations

Great book, insightful, but easy to understand. I wish they had included battle illustrations of the forces and their movements during the battles covered a it is hard to follow by imagining in your head. Especially when listening in bits and pieces in audio form

Solid one for history nerds like me

Took a little bit to get into it but a really solid and approachable read for those uninitiated with the academics of ancient history

Engaging & Thorough

Cole's style strikes the balance between dramatic tension and detailed analysis. Very enjoyable, very informative. I look forward to his future non-fiction.

Weaknesses Not Explored

Weaknesses of the Legion military structure were not explored. This work was an excellent demonstration of the Legion's superiority over the Phalanx and the roots of the two structures in the differing social structures of Rome and Greece, but eventually the Legion failed. The Legion failed when swarms of horse mounted archers arrived from central Asia: first the early Persians, then the Huns, the Mongolians, and finally the Turks, who reduced the Roman state to three cities and finally and made it their own. The Turks brought an important game changing technology to warfare: firearms. Although author Myke Cole talks about the importance of attack by missiles such as javelin, sling bullets, and arrows, but he could have had a final chapter on the arrival of firearms.

Good read for those interested in ancient warfare

Good argument on why the legion prevailed over the phalanx. Myke Cole keeps it short and into the point highlighting battles between Rome and Macedon.

A solid primer with enjoyable insights

As a classical military enthusiast, I appreciate well written contemporary books which cover this well-worn topic with new insights and perspectives. As a military man who knows the ancient source material, Myke Cole does a good job comparing these ancient writers and applying his personal real world military experience. He’s also a pretty good writer.

A Good Place to Start For Classic Warfare

The author does a great job, giving you the basics of Phalanx and Legion Warfare, especially if you have an interest in the subject, but don't know where to start. He also uses pop culture to help the reader contextualize what he is trying to describe, which was very helpful.