Phalanx

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/phalanx

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the formation type?A dense, rectangular mass formation of heavy infantry
2. What is the tactical doctrine?Emphasized collective defense, unified advance, and psychological impact through disciplined mass
3. How did soldiers in a phalanx hold their spears?The front soldiers lowered their long spears straight ahead to make a strong front line, while the soldiers behind angled their spears up and forward so the whole group could push enemies.
4. Why were the shields in a phalanx so important?The big round shields overlapped, giving each soldier protection from the front and sides, and they helped keep the group together so the soldiers could stand strong.

Hoplite: Heavily armed citizen-soldiers of ancient Greece who fought in phalanx formations.
Sarissa: An extremely long pike, typically 13-18 feet, used by the Macedonian phalanx.
Hellenistic Period: The era following Alexander the Great's conquests, characterized by the spread of Greek culture and influence.
Cohesion: The act or state of sticking together tightly; unity within a group.