Forget what Hollywood told you — Spartan warriors weren’t what you think.
Historian Roel Konijnendijk (and longtime r/AskHistorians mod) joins Why Wars Happened to bust myths, expose ancient tactics, and reveal what Greek warfare really looked like — from militias to Persian deals that changed history.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened Podcast
00:50 Meet Roel Konijnendijk: Expert on Classical Greek Warfare
01:30 Understanding Greek Warfare: Myths vs. Reality
01:57 The Citizen Militia: Greek Warfare Dynamics
04:20 The Role of Generals and the Community in Greek Warfare
14:46 Comparing Greek and Roman Military Systems
18:45 Sources and Evidence in Studying Ancient Warfare
27:48 The Mystery of Greek Fire and Ancient Innovations
31:28 Debates and Misconceptions in Greek Warfare
35:33 Greek Relations and Alliances
36:23 The Persian Empire's Influence
37:33 Greek States Seeking Persian Aid
38:34 Persian Wars and Greek Diplomacy
41:44 The King's Peace Treaty
42:41 Macedonian Rise and Greek Response
44:21 Greek History and Popular Culture
01:02:22 Spartan Military Myths
01:10:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
#GreekWarfare #Spartans #AncientHistory #MilitaryMyths #WhyWarsHappened
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