who do you think would win a war between Rome and Macedonians of alexander or the spartans?

Question

I think that Rome would win over both, the roman legion crushed the macedonian phalanx of philip V and conquered grece. The macedonian phalanx is an evolution of the spartan phalanx conquered by the last one. But the alexander factor is interesting. What do you think?

Answer 1

I'd say that if you took the Roman legion at the time of Julius Cesar (when it was a standing, professional army with quality generals and top-notch equipment) it would utterly destroy a Macedonian army of the type fielded by Alexander. But if you gave Alexander the opportunity to field a Roman legion, he would conquer the world.

In the battles where Romans engaged Macedonian phalanxes, the phalanx was outmaneuvered by Romans who took advantage of it's inflexibility and vulnerable flanks. In later Roman Legions the improved weaponry and armor would have lent a major advantage over the Macedonian technology.

I think the question is something like asking "who would win - Napoleon and his army of Waterloo or Bismark's army of 1871?" While Nappy was a genius, I don't think he'd be able to overcome the German guns.

Answer 2

The greek phalanxe proved unwieldy against the more mobile flanking tactics of the roman legions. The phalanxe could not meet flank attacks with speed and were undone by being attacked from the side and rear. Look at the 300 Spartans at Thermopolye, they were undone by being attacked from the rear.