A Study Of The Athenian Cavalry In The Classical Era

From the development process of Athenian democracy,the domestic and foreign military activities related to the fate of Athenian democracy and country,military forces in Athens,the cavalry seems to be experienced the process of growing power and accumulating experience in the fifth Century BC,the time the cavalry built and developed in the heyday of Athenian democracy and Athens Empire,this is conducive to defend Athens' s political system,and they have their own young noble image,it also represents the democratic politics reconciling the noble and rich forces.But in the oligarchic coup at the end of the fifth Century BC the cavalry joined the oligarch party,this had generated strong criticism for themselves after the restoration of democracy,more than that,but the Athenian people themselves had negative feelings about them,the Athens cavalry in the classical age is not only a military organization but also a social group with political expectations,their loyalty to Athenian democracy fluctuated in the changes of national fate in Athens,and they had also choosing a new way of survival with the conflicts inside Athens.The first chapter: firstly traces the origin of the Athenian cavalry originated Noble Cavalry,introducing Athenians used cavalry and social status of cavalry before the democracy establishment;in the key of the Persian war,especially in the battle of Plataea,the threat of Persian cavalry in the war had greatly promoted the further development of Athenian cavalry force;along with the peak of democracy and the development of the Athenian Empire,the Athenian cavalry forced the emergence of new changes,the main performances were from the nobles arming themselves turned into government funding,and the scale also expanded from dozens 1200,state control of the cavalry increased,Athenian cavalry had regarded as the one of basic military forces in Athens.The second chapter: analyzing the social sources and military functions of Athenian cavalry.The establishment of four social levels of Solon is more to distinguish the minimum political requirements of political participation and not linked to military obligations.Hippeis level is not the same as Athenian cavalry,but by 4th century BC,the design of the four levels became relaxed,so in the actual operation became more closely related to military practice;in military activities,thepeculiarities of the cavalry is mainly in the stamina,mobility,and so on,Athensian cavalry has sufficient training and in the Greek world in a larger scale.It is also possible to stand on the battlefield by attacking crumbling hoplite arrays and carrying out mobile defenses,despite they had some disadvantages in the ancient Greek war,its advantages were irreplaceable.The third chapter: demonstrating that the Athenians regard the cavalry as a social elite group with the characteristics of rich aristocratic youth,and praise them in public art and public activities,at the same time the Athenian cavalry in the eyes of the Athenians,the impression is rich and arrogant,behind the social image of the Athenian cavalry is they maintain and destroy the double position of democracy,according to this situation,to analyze the position of Athenian cavalry in the democratic system.By studying the source,military function and social status of the Athenian cavalry,this paper comprehensively displays the image of the Athenian cavalry group in the classical age and combs the course of the Athenian cavalry activities.At the same time,the military and social status of Athenian cavalry are analyzed to deepen the understanding of democracy and enrich the understanding of the relationship between the social stratums of Athens.