What made the Macedonian army so powerful all of the sudden under

Longer spears, tighter formations and the ability to recruit and maintain a proper standing army due to Phillip successfully seizing silver mines in Thrace (IIRC?) that had been under Athenian suzerainty. That and cavalry of course, which had been traditionally somewhat overlooked in Greek warfare.

>>2480609
Inferiority complex

>>2480609

It was primarily having a wholly professional standing force, which trained in combined arms tactics.

The long spears were nice, but ultimately not the main reason for success. Things like forming up your phalanxes into seperate squares which were trained to maneuver independently, or teaching your spearmen and cavalry how to work together instead of letting them each do their own thing and hoping for the best, or actually having a corps of engineers, were far more important.

>>2480617
Don't forget the discovery of gold near Pellas. He had ample funds to create a standing army and put into practice the military theories he picked up while a hostage.

>>2480622
>Inferiority complex
the father of all greatness

>>2480625
The engineers are overlooked as well, that's true. By the time of Alexander they could do crazy shit like building the mole across to Tyre or the causeway between the mountains at Aornos (beyond the usual trenches and fortifications). The engineers were also vital in their roles as sappers during many of Alexander's sieges, such as at Tyre and Gaza.

>>2480617
>>2480625
If it weren't for the discordant state of Greek politics during this time, would Macedonia still have been as ascendant?

>>2482310
Yes, tiny greek dory are no match for the big macedonian sarissa.

Greeks weren't united
Also the longer spears

File: Hypaspist.jpg (71KB, 581x750px) Image search: [Google]

71KB, 581x750px

>>2480609
>What made the Macedonian army so powerful all of the sudden under Philip II? Was it really the longer spears?
Nope: a professional army.

The average Greek City State ran citizens militias composed of armed citizens. Who were drilled as part of their civic duty.

The average Macedonian soldier is not a citizen. He was a professional soldier to the hilt. Macedonian culture is pretty much dominated by a military elite whose soldiers were paid in land to free them from menial labor.

Ergo of the two, the Mack one is better trained, better disciplined than most of his greek counterparts.

>>2480609
Tavce gravce

Macedonians tried to compensate in warfare what they lacked in culture compared to the Greeks. Same thing for the Romans.

It's funny to think that the simple invention of just making your spears longer and longer in an arms race was critical to history.
>GUYS
>WHY DON'T WE JUST LIKE, MAKE IT SO THAT WE CAN POKE THEM FROM MORE FAR AWAY?
>my god... it's perfect