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Quiz about Roman Legion vs Macedonian Phalanx

Roman Legion vs. Macedonian Phalanx Quiz

The clash of the two most powerful armies of the ancient world to this day has historians on the edge of their seats. How well do you know why one triumphed over the other?

A multiple-choice quiz by Pyrrus. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Pyrrus

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
348,508

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
689

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Macedonian phalanx had a legendary reputation. It had never been defeated by a non-Greek army. Against which enemy did it have its most significant (and famous) victories? Hint

Rome

Thrace

The Greek Cities

Persia

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Question 2 of 10

2. At the time of Macedon's struggle with Rome, the Macedonian soldier, closed in the phalanx formation, was armed with which weapons? Hint

A long spear, large round shield and short sword

A long spear and a small round shield

A long spear,a small round shield and a short sword

A short spear and a large round shield

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Roman army at the time was divided in legions. Legions had four different types of footmen, divided by experience. Which one of these groups was the most experienced? Hint

Principes

Triarii

Hastati

Velites

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Question 4 of 10

4. One of Rome's most dangerous weapons was the heavy javelin, or pilum. Which units had this deadly weapon in their arsenal? Hint

All except Triarii

Hastati and Principes

All except Velites

Velites and Hastati

5. Rome and Macedon hadn't always been enemies, but Macedon had once allied itself with a general, an enemy of Rome, who used war elephants in battle. He had defeated the Romans in Italy and afterwards also fought in Sicily, with great success. Who was it? Hint

Hamilcar

Pyrrhus

Hannibal

Philip V

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Question 6 of 10

6. While invading Persia, Alexander the Great had many battlefields to choose from to fight the great King Darius. The Persian challenged him on a wide, open battlefield, so that he could use his fearsome chariots. Why did Alexander accept this challenge? Hint

Even if all the advantages were with Darius, he knew he would win

He knew Darius was a coward

He had just as many chariots of his own

The phalanx is at its best on open terrain

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Question 7 of 10

7. At the time of the war between Rome and Macedon, in the heat of battle the phalanx was capable of what maneuvers or movements? Hint

It couldn't move, the phalangites fixed their sarissas to the ground

It could move in any direction, but not turn

It could perform any maneuver

It could only move straight ahead, or backwards

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Question 8 of 10

8. This unit, of about 120 men, allowed the Roman army greater flexibility, and gave its officers more space for initiative. Hint

Maniple

Cohort

Century

Legion

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Question 9 of 10

9. The legion met the phalanx on several occasions. What was the usual outcome? Hint

Most times it ended in a draw

In most battles the phalanx only killed about half as many men as it lost

The battles always crippled both sides

The phalanx was slaughtered almost every time

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Question 10 of 10

10. Many factors contributed to Rome's victory over Macedon. Which one of these advantages favored Rome more than any other? Hint

The unprecedented use of onagers and ballistas, super effective against dense formations

Larger and better organised cavalry

Greater mobility of its infantry

Better knowledge of the terrain

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Macedonian phalanx had a legendary reputation. It had never been defeated by a non-Greek army. Against which enemy did it have its most significant (and famous) victories?

Answer: Persia

Battles like Issus and Gaugamela destroyed the Persian armies and allowed Alexander the Great to conquer an enormous portion of the largest empire of the ancient world.

2. At the time of Macedon's struggle with Rome, the Macedonian soldier, closed in the phalanx formation, was armed with which weapons?

Answer: A long spear,a small round shield and a short sword

Contrary to what one would expect, the typical Macedonian phalangite did not have a large round shield, or hoplon, like in the traditional Greek phalanx. They only had a small one, similar to those used by skirmishers. There wasn't much need for one anyway: against melee weapons the long sarissas (long spears) kept enemies at a distance, and against arrows the phalangites of the ranks after the fifth kept the spears at a tilted angle to deflect projectiles.

3. The Roman army at the time was divided in legions. Legions had four different types of footmen, divided by experience. Which one of these groups was the most experienced?

Answer: Triarii

The velites were the least experienced, typically young men or "barbarian" allies. Then came the hastati, already proven in battle. Next came the principes and finally the triarii, veterans of many battles. The triarii were only used in extreme situations, when all the other sections of the army had failed.

4. One of Rome's most dangerous weapons was the heavy javelin, or pilum. Which units had this deadly weapon in their arsenal?

Answer: Hastati and Principes

The Velites did have javelins, but they were not pila. They were shorter and lighter, with greater range. The Triarii had a heavy spear, called hasta, but they didn't have any javelins. Hastati and Principes usually used the pila to either stop an enemy charge or to break up a formation before one of their own.

They were usually thrown in very close quarters, so range wasn't an issue and their increased weight only added to their frightening and sudden impact.

Answer: Pyrrhus

Pyrrus was a Hellenistic king, at the head of the Molossian tribe which lived in Epirus, modern day Albania. Although even Hannibal used war elephants and had won major battles in Italy, he didn't then go to Sicily to win great victories. Pyrrhus on the other hand, after his Italian campaign, landed on the island and helped the Greek cities fight the Carthaginians.

Answer: The phalanx is at its best on open terrain

The phalanx opened up to let the chariots pass harmlessly, and be surrounded. Closing up again, the long sarissas had no trouble at all at keeping the phalangites out of harm's way. Unfortunately for him, while it still mattered, Darius never understood that he was letting his enemy fight on the terrain most favourable for him.

7. At the time of the war between Rome and Macedon, in the heat of battle the phalanx was capable of what maneuvers or movements?

Answer: It could only move straight ahead, or backwards

In the heat of battle it was impossible for the phalanx to maneuver. To turn, a phalangite would need to pull his sarissa up vertically, and then lower it again in the new direction. This was just impossible when the phalanx was in direct contact with the enemy.

8. This unit, of about 120 men, allowed the Roman army greater flexibility, and gave its officers more space for initiative.

Answer: Maniple

The maniple was adopted by the Roman army during its war against the Samnite tribe. Its small dimension gave it unprecedented flexibility, while an efficient chain of command ensured that it could easily merge with large formations.

9. The legion met the phalanx on several occasions. What was the usual outcome?

Answer: The phalanx was slaughtered almost every time

Just as the Macedonian army had done against Persia, the Roman legions had extremely limited losses in most of its engagements with Macedon. At the battle of Pydna, for example, almost seven out of eight Macedonians were either killed or captured.

10. Many factors contributed to Rome's victory over Macedon. Which one of these advantages favored Rome more than any other?

Answer: Greater mobility of its infantry

Infantry was key to victory. The legions could move in small, deadly groups on any type of terrain, while the phalanx, a tight, compact, and most of all single unit could very easily lose its cohesion over rough terrain. This fragility allowed the heavily armored Romans to get close to the phalangites, who were easily cut down.

Source: Author Pyrrus

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