Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

VI.ARMIES IN THE FIFTH CENTURY B. C.The Pei-sian army was divided into active and garrison troops. The wholepopulation was parceled out on a decimal basis, and from this the army wasdrawn. The body-guard of the king, "The Immortals," was ten thousandstrong. The satraps gradually acquired more and more power, grew carelessof war and lived in their harems. Mercenary troops were engaged, manyfrom Greece. Cavalry was the most effective of the Persian arms ; the footwas numerous but unreliable. Chariots remained in use. Wide, open plainswere chosen as battlefields. Tactics underwent no improvement. The Persianswere sliding backward in war. In Greece mercenary troops also appeared,and though citizens were stUl held to service, substitutes were allowed. Thebest Greek soldiers became professionals and sold their services abroad to whomsoeverpaid the most. Despite which there was always a kernel left of goodnative troops. Such was the Theban Sacred Band. The lance of the hoplitegrew in length.A new body of light troops, peltasts, was created, much betterthan the irregular psUoi. The cavalry grew in numbers, but was still farfrom good. The phalanx was improved in drill and battle-tactics. It was abody perfect for one blow on level ground, or for defense, but was easily disorganizedby rough ground, and if broken it was gone. Greek armies weresmall and carried little baggage. They marched far and stood hardship andrough usage with wonderful constancy. There were several orders of battle,but the parallel was still generally employed. Troops were now paid. Afterthe Peloponnesian war discipline declined. There continued to be much religiousceremonial connected with the movements of armies, and the burial of thedead was demanded by custom. The Greeks were barbarous to prisoners.There was no field fortification, but cities were well fortified. These were usuallytaken by storm or stratagem. Rams and other siege machinery graduallycame into use, with mines, mounds, towers, etc. War on land and war at seawere not so different as they are to-day. The hoplite served on the fleet asreadily as on land. Ships were small and put into shore every night. The numerousrowers left small room for soldiers aboard. War ships sought to ramtheir opponents and then to board them. Naval tactics was simple. In Sparta,Laconians, freedmen, helots and mercenaries crept into the army. In Athens,