What did Alexander the Great do to contribute to the phalanx?

Question

I know he expanded on it, not sure how.

Answer 1

what phillip did (alexanders dad) was they used very long spears, the spears were 18ft long and with these gigantic spears it was hard to break the phalanx

Answer 2

Alexander The Great Phalanx

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What did Alexander the Great do to contribute to the phalanx?
I know he expanded on it, not sure how.

Answer 4

It seems that his father did all the contributions, based on earlier innovations and the Macedonion Sarissa spear. Alexander's tactics seems to have diminished the role of the phalanx formation.

"The sarissa was the spear used by the Ancient Macedonian army, including king Philip II of Macedon, and later his son Alexander the Great, who conquered much of the world known to the Greeks."

"Although the longer weapons of the Macedonian phalanx meant that their formation was less flexible than that of the Greeks, it was not seen as a great disadvantage since the phalanx was meant to serve only as a part of a combined force that included a variety of skirmishers and cavalry, most notably the prodromoi scouts and the famous Companion cavalry. The Macedonian phalanx generally worked to pin the center of the enemy line, while the Companions attacked the flanks, and the light infantry hovered around to cover the phalanx's immediate flanks and plug gaps in the line caused by advancing through difficult terrain. This combined force was far superior to any static Greek hoplite army. For example, at the Battle of Chaeronea, Philip II's army crushed the Theban phalanx, which itself advanced in the oblique. It had been inconceivable to phalanges before this battle that a force of cavalry would dare charge straight through and over the spears, but the Companion cavalry under crown prince Alexander The Great ran right over and annihilated the elite Theban Sacred Band of Thebes. This battle marked the beginning of the end of a single phalanx as a dominant force in warfare."

"Phalanx formation" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_formation

Britannica is a bit more positive about Alexander's role :

"The basic Greek formation was made more flexible by Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander III the Great. Alexander's core unit in the phalanx was the syntagma, normally 16 men deep. Each soldier was armed with the sarissa, a 13- to 21-foot spear; in battle formation, the first five ranks held their spears horizontally in front of the advancing phalanx, each file being practically on the heels of the men in front. The remaining 11 ranks presumably held their spears vertically or rested them on the shoulders of those in front. On both sides of the syntagma, lending mobility as well as protection, was the light infantry, a disciplined force of archers, slingers, and javelin men. Protecting the flanks and poised to charge the enemy's weak points was heavy cavalry, armed with sword and javelin. Squadrons of light horse were used for scouting and skirmishing."

"phalanx", Encyclopædia Britannica CD 2000

"addition, the phalanx began to be combined with other kinds of troops, such as light infantry (javelin men and slingers) and cavalry. Indeed, the history of Greek warfare can be understood as a process by which various previously existing types of troops came to be combined, integrated, and made to support one another. This development gained momentum in 4th-century battles, such as the one fought by Thebes against the Thessalians at Cynoscephalae in 364 BC, and it culminated in the hands of Alexander III the Great, whose army saw most of these different troops fighting side by side."

"Combined infantry and cavalry", Encyclopædia Britannica CD 2000

"The victories of Philip II and Alexander the Great were made possible by imaginative generalship and inspirational leadership combined with the use of elite troops that were specially trained and equipped. The Macedonian phalanx depended upon a long, heavy spear called a sarissa. The troops were organized in battalions of about 1,500 men forming 15 rows in depth. The 11 rows at the rear held their spears vertically, causing them to tower formidably above them. The four front rows held their spears horizontally so that all projected in front of the phalanx. For protective armour they wore helmets, leather corselets, and metal greaves, and each carried a small round shield. The phalanx was virtually impregnable to a frontal attack but could not easily swerve or reverse. The heavy cavalry of the Companions carried a shorter spear and scimitar and wore metal helmets and breastplates. They advanced in the form of a spearpoint, or triangle, so as to break up the opposing line of battle. On the wings of the phalanx were fairly mobile troops: light cavalry, slingers and archers and javelin men, and light infantry."

"Hellenistic Age : Military developments", Encyclopædia Britannica CD 2000