History's Greatest Battles
Where the course of history has been decided on the battlefield. These are the battles that made us -- a detailed, entertaining, and tangent-free program about history's greatest battles. In this program, we embark on a journey through the constancy of human conflict, where the fates of nations and the course of history have been decided on the battlefield. This program delves into our world-history's most significant and seminal battles, exploring not just the events themselves but their profound impact on the world timeline we live in today. Each episode is meticulously crafted by ardent and dedicated history fans with a passion for military history and an appreciation for the art of storytelling. Join us as we unravel the strategies, heroics, and consequences that have shaped civilizations and forged the destiny of entire continents.
History's Greatest Battles
The Battle of Leuctra, 371 BC. Spartan Defeat. First Known Tactical Use of Cavalry. First Flank Refusal. Art of War Forever Changed.
The Theban victory at Leuctra shattered Spartan dominance, a dominance that had held the Greek peninsula in an iron grip since the end of the Peloponnesian War. For the first time, the myth of Spartan invincibility was broken, and the balance of power shifted.
But Theban supremacy was fleeting. Their rise destabilized Greece, sparking bitter rivalries and further conflict. In the chaos, an opportunity emerged for a new force to rise: Macedon. Led by Philip II and later his son Alexander, the Macedonians would seize control of Greece, ending the era of city-state independence and paving the way for an empire that would reshape the ancient world.
Leuctra. July, 371 B.C.
Theban Forces: 6,000 Hoplites and 1,500 Cavalry.
Spartan Forces: 10,000 Hoplites and 1,000 Cavalry.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:
- Ferril, Arthur. The Origins of War.
- Dryden Translation: Plutarch. The Lives of Noble Grecians and Romans.
- Warner Translation: Xenophon. A History of My Times.
- Buckler, John. The Theban Hegemony 371-362.
- Markov, Walter. Battles of World History.
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