Hoplite

A heavily armed infantry soldier of ancient Greece, equipped chiefly with a shield and spear and trained to fight in a close-order phalanx.

Aspis: A large, round shield used by Greek hoplites, typically with a wooden core and bronze facing. Its size and grip helped each soldier protect both himself and the man beside him.
Shield wall: A defensive line formed by soldiers bringing their shields together or overlapping them. Hoplite shields could create a continuous protective front when the ranks held together.
Archaic Greece: The period of Greek history conventionally dated from about 800 to 480 BCE. Hoplite warfare took shape during this era of expanding city-states and military change.
Athenian democracy: The system of direct citizen government practiced in Athens, especially during the fifth and fourth centuries BCE. Military service formed part of civic life, though hoplite status alone did not define democratic participation.
Dory: A Greek thrusting spear with a wooden shaft and metal point, used as a primary infantry weapon. Hoplites used the spear to strike opponents while maintaining the formation’s close ranks.
Othismos: A Greek term associated with the pushing or press of opposing forces in hoplite battle. It names a disputed account of how close combat between phalanxes unfolded.
Polis: An independent Greek city-state and its surrounding territory, organized around a civic community. Hoplites commonly fought for the city-state whose citizens supplied and organized its army.
Spartan army: The military force of Sparta, organized around its full-time citizen soldiers and supported by other subject populations. Sparta became especially associated with disciplined hoplite warfare and prolonged military training.
Greaves: Protective coverings worn over the lower legs, commonly made of bronze in ancient Greek armor. They shielded the exposed shins of hoplites advancing within the formation.
Battle of Marathon: A battle in 490 BCE in which an Athenian-led Greek force defeated a Persian army near Marathon. The Greek force used a hoplite phalanx in a celebrated victory over the Persians.

Linked from 11 pages