Why was sarissa so effective?

The sarissa, made of tough and resilient cornel wood, was very heavy for a spear, weighing approximately 5.5 to 6.5 kg (12 to 14 lb). The spike also served to balance out the spear, making it easier for soldiers to wield, and could be used as a back-up point should the main one break.

What is a sarissa And how did the Macedonian army use it?

The most distinctive weapon in the Macedonian army, the sarissa likely evolved from earlier hunting spears used to subdue wild boar. Consequently, his men wore lighter armor and carried smaller shields with straps, enabling them to deflect blows while freeing both hands to wield the lightweight sarissa.

Was Philip of Macedonia greater than Alexander?

Philip prepared the ground, assembled the resources, conceived the strategic vision, and launched the first modern, tactically sophisticated and strategically capable army in Western military history, making the later victories of his son Alexander possible. In all these things, Philip exceeded Alexander’s triumphs.

What caused the fall of the Macedonian empire?

Macedonia’s decline began with the Macedonian Wars and the rise of Rome as the leading Mediterranean power. At the end of the Third Macedonian War in 168 BC, the Macedonian monarchy was abolished and replaced by Roman client states.

How did Alexander use the sarissa?

II of Macedon introduced the sarissa, a pike 13 to 21 feet (4 to 6.5 m) long that gave the Macedonian infantry an extra reach before the pike blades of the opposing Greeks could reach them. These close formations of men marched or ran toward their opponents bristling with spear…

How was Philip’s sarissa better than other Greek Spears?

The first advantage of the sarissa was its enormous length. Being almost three times the length of the typical hoplite spear Phillip’s men could strike the enemy at a distance well out of range of their shorter weapons.

When was the sarissa used?

The sarissa or sarisa (Greek: σάρισα) was a 4 to 7 meter (13–21 feet) long spear used in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic warfare. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in the traditional phalanxes of Philip II of Macedon as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter.

When were sarissa invented?

In the mid-fourth century BC a new style of warfare came onto the world stage which was to become the dominant form of fighting in the eastern Mediterranean for two centuries. That new system of combat was the Hellenistic phalanx – a block of ranks and files made up of men wielding a long pike known as the sarissa.

How did Philip II influence Alexander the Great?

Philip II also built an army of unprecedented ability and resilience, which conquered the Greek peninsula and prepared the conquest of the Persian Empire that amalgamated with a Greco-Macedonia army. Alexander in point of fact led the invading forces, when he conquered the great Persian Empire.

Why do you think King Philip said that Macedonia didn’t have room for Alexander?

Philip’s opinion was that Macedonia was too small for him that he had to look for his own empire.

What made the Macedonian empire successful?

Scholars have attributed Alexander’s diplomatic skills and habit of carrying books with him on his military campaigns to Aristotle’s influence. In one long military campaign that lasted 11 years, he conquered the Persian Empire, making Macedonia the largest, most powerful empire in the world.

What did Alexander the Great do after the Persian Empire fell?

The reign of Alexander the Great was short-lived. After subduing all of the Persian Empire, his army marched east and got as far as India before turning back home to Macedon.

Why was the sarissa so important?

The sarissa was one of the most influential weapons of war in ancient times. It’s introduction into the Macedonian infantry was a significant factor in making Alexander’s armies the superior fighting force of ancient times, resulting in the massive empire of Alexander the Great.

How was the sarissa able to wield with two hands?

The soldier was able to wield the sarissa with two hands as he made use of a smaller shield than other spear wielding soldiers. This smaller shield could be slung around the neck. Theophrastus, an ancient author of the time the sarissa was in use, wrote of the pike reaching up to 18 feet, although the exact length is still debated.

Why was Alexander the Great so infatuated with Persian life?

When Alexander conquered Persia he became infatuated with Persian life. This is interesting because, he is not barbaric and forces people into slavery, or completely disregards their culture. This is important because from this we learn even more that Alexander yearned for knowledge, not just for the world in his hands.

How did Alexander the Great gain control of Anatolia?

The Macedonian army charged straight at Darius We can accredit Alexander’s witty thinking to the wonderful education Alexander received at the hands of Aristotle (review Aristotle’s methodology) . Also, Alexander had been “commanding” troops ever since he was a young boy This victory gave Alexander control over Anatolia.