Final answer:
The hoplite phalanx was a crucial military formation in Classical Greece, comprising citizen-soldiers who influenced Greek politics. Their effectiveness was proven in conflicts against the Persians, and later innovations by Macedonian leadership reshaped the military landscape, leading to the dominance of Macedon in Greek affairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hoplite phalanx was a critical military innovation during the Classical Greek period, notable for its dense formation of spearmen, known as hoplites, who were heavily armored citizen-soldiers of their respective city-state or polis. Each hoplite had to afford his own arms and armor, ensuring that those who served were financially invested citizens.
This form of military organization meant that the hoplites often held a vested interest in the political affairs of their polis and later played a significant role in demanding greater political representation. The phalanx strategy proved to be highly effective against various adversaries, including the Persians, who clashed with the Greeks in a series of historical battles such as the Battle of Marathon and the defense of Thermopylae led by Spartans.
In contrast to the traditional hoplite phalanx, Macedonian king Philip innovated the formation by employing longer spears and integrating elite cavalry, further fortifying his military might. His restructured phalanx, combined with personal leadership in battle and investment in training and drilling, contributed to Macedon's success in regional conflicts. These military strategies were mirrored to some extent by the coordination of Greek city-states into the Hellenic League to oppose the larger Persian invasion spearheaded by Xerxes I.