After the Romans defeated the Spartans in 195 B.C., did the Roman army every adopt the Phalanx method of attack?
2007-04-08 14:45:34 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
No! The Macedonian phalanx of Philip and Alexander was their innovation. The Romans invented the legion, which fought in a looser, more adaptable way. The Spartans and Athenians used an even more inferior line of battle. The Romans were using that inferior method when Hannibal "enveloped" them at Cannae even before the Spartans.
2007-04-08 14:52:20 · answer #1 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very early on in monarchical times the Romans used the phalanx, but they changed to a more flexible system later. It proved its superiority when they decisively defeated the Macedonians (not the Spartans) at Cynoscephalae in 195 BC.
2007-04-09 01:56:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Early Rome did use the Phalanx, but as the needs of Empire changed the territories where battles were fought, Rome developed more adaptive field arrangements.
2007-04-08 22:18:25 · answer #3 · answered by You are all, weirdos. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the Romans DID use the Phalanx formation which they inherited from the Etruscans.
However, around 350BC they adopted the Maniple Formation, which allowed for a greater amount of maneuverability and field tactics.
2014-02-25 16:29:27 · answer #4 · answered by Holy_Dignus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was their principle form of infantry attack, although they modified it slightly.
2007-04-08 21:49:07 · answer #5 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋