How the Macedonian Phalanx Conquered Greece

The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History · Jun 16, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In this episode of The History of Greece, Lucas and Luna break down the rise of the Macedonian phalanx — the revolutionary military formation that allowed Philip II and his son Alexander to conquer the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire. They walk through the key innovations: the sarissa, the synaspismos, the tactical reforms that turned a motley army into an unstoppable force. You'll learn how Philip II's early experience as a hostage in Thebes shaped his military thinking, how the phalanx squared off against the hoplite phalanx at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, and why…