The fourth century bce

This chapter discusses whether mercenaries had a greater role in the fourth century BCE. Professional generals and writers of technical military manuals flourished during this time, as did military strongmen who monopolized the resources of poleis, such as Dionysius of Syracuse and Jason of Pherae. Despite military innovations, the phalanx remained a staple of Greek warfare, though leaders such as Epameinondas experimented with cunning new phalanx tactics and supplemented hoplites with other types of arms. The chapter ends by discussing two battles representative of fourth-century BCE warfare, Lechaeum and Mantinea.