MACEDONIAN ARMY OF PHILIP II AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT

The rise of Alexander the Great, the conquest of the Persian Empire, Alexander's campaigns in Central Asia and India, weapons and equipment of the Macedonian Army, its history and organisation from the years 359-323 BC are the subject of this complete and detailed analysis. The Army was built by Philip II and later employed to world-changing effect by his son, Alexander III (the Great). Esposito explains how Philip took the traditional forces of Macedon and reformed them into the most modern and sophisticated combined-arms force in the Mediterranean world. Not only the formidable pike phalanx and the hard-charging Companion cavalry, but also the less famous components such as light infantry and cavalry types are described in detail. The tactics employed in the great battles that won the largest empire the world had seen are analysed and there are numerous colour photos showing replica weapons and equipment in use. We will also see how the Macedonians played an important role in the history of Greece before the ascendancy of Philip and how the latter was able to subdue most of the southern Balkans in just a few years. Here too are the iconic military units of the foot companions, the horse companions and the hypaspists and the great victories in Asia at the River Granicus, Issus, Tyre, Gaza, Gaugamela, the Persian Gate, Sogdian Rock and River Hydaspes. 144 large pages, many colour photos.