Unit Cohesion and Warfare in the Ancient World: Military and Social Approaches

Description

This book explores unit cohesion in ancient armies, and how this contributed to the making of war in the Mediterranean world. It takes a varied approach to the subject, from looking at individual groups within larger armies to juxtaposing vertical and horizontal types of cohesion, providing a more detailed understanding of how groups were kept together. Within the broader definition of ‘unit cohesion’, this volume approaches more specific aspects of military cohesion in the ancient Mediterranean world including how individual soldiers commit to one another; how armies and units are maintained through hierarchy and the ‘chain of command’; and social cohesion, in which social activities and aspects of social power help bind an army or unit together. Examples from across the ancient Mediterranean are explored in this volume, from Classical Greece to Late Antiquity, with topics such as how armies and units cohere during the sacking of cities, Roman standards as a focus of religious cohesion, and how the multi-ethnic mercenary armies of Carthage cohered. Modern approaches to social cohesion are deployed throughout, and these essays serve as an important complement to existing literature on unit cohesion more generally. Unit Cohesion and Warfare in the Ancient World is of interest to students and scholars of ancient warfare, military history and military studies, as well as those working on the ancient Mediterranean world more broadly. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Contributors Unit Cohesion in the Ancient World: An Introduction Unit Cohesion Cohesion in Ancient Armies Notes Bibliography 1. The Eager Amateur: Unit Cohesion and the Athenian Hoplite Phalanx An Amateur Army The Alternative Improving Unit Cohesion Conclusion Notes Bibliography 2. The Rhodian Slingers in Xenophon's Anabasis The Sling as a Technology Unit Cohesion Skirmishing Conclusion Notes Bibliography 3. Keeping It Together: Aeneas Tacticus and Unit Cohesion in Ancient Greek Siege Warfare The Ancient Greek Siege How to Survive Siege Warfare and the City We're All in This Together? The Primary Group and Military Unit in Siege Warfare What Are We Fighting For? The Socio-Political System The Compliance Relationship Conclusion Notes Bibliography 4. 'Once within the Gates': Storming Cities and Unit Cohesion in Ancient Mediterranean Warfare Dangers Within The Gates Collective Action Within the Gates Commanders, Collective Action, and Vertical Cohesion Within the Gates Conclusion Notes Bibliography 5. Unit Cohesion in the Multi-Ethnic Armies of Carthage Horizontal and Peer Cohesion Vertical and Rank Cohesion Conclusions Notes Bibliography 6. Roman Standards and Trumpets as Implements of Cohesion in Battle Musical Instruments The Military Standards Sound and Visuals in Battle: Implements of Horizontal and Vertical Cohesion The Position of the Standards and Aeneatores A Model of Cohesion Components The Chain of Vertical Cohesion Conclusions Notes Bibliography 7. The Legionary Standards as a Means of Religious Cohesion Notes Bibliography 8. Looking for Unit Cohesion at the End of Antiquity Introduction Scholarship Background Evidence Types Lesser Evidence Military Manuals Epigraphic Evidence Papyrological Evidence Material Evidence Beyond Peer Bonding and Unit Cohesion Conclusion Notes Bibliography 9. '... They Were Routed': Cohesion and Disintegration in Ancient Battle Predispositional Factors Bodily Discomforts Precipitating Triggers in Combat Casualties Combat Exertions The Opposition Tales of the Unexpected: Sensemaking and Disintegration The Persistence of Cohesion: Affiliative Behaviour in Rout Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index