hoplites

hoplites (hoplĭtai)in Greece, the heavy-armed infantry of the city-states, citizens who could not maintain horses but could afford to equip themselves with armour and to provide for their families while they were away on campaign. The style of fighting with hoplites in phalanx formation spread throughout Greece from c.700 to c.650 BC, giving a sense of cohesion to the middle class with important political consequences: the hippeis, ‘knights’, lost their prestige as battle-winners, and as the new battle-winners hoplites claimed a greater share in the government.