A hoplite (from ta hopla meaning tool or equipment) was the most common type of heavily armed foot-soldier in ancient Greece from the 7th to 4th centuries BCE, and most ordinary citizens of Greek city-states with sufficient means were expected to equip and make themselves available for the role when necessary.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 650 BCE - c. 350 BCEHoplites are the major protagonists in Greek land warfare.
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520 BCEThe hoplitodromos (a foot-race in hoplite armour is added to the schedule of the Olympic Games.
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11 Sep 490 BCEA combined force of Greek hoplites defeat the Persians at Marathon.
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Aug 480 BCEBattle of Thermopylae. 300 Spartans under King Leonidas and other Greek allies hold back the Persians led by Xerxes I for three days but are defeated.
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479 BCEXerxes' Persian forces are defeated by Greek forces at Plataea effectively ending Persia's imperial ambitions in Greece.
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457 BCESparta wins the battle of Tanagra during the 1st Peloponnesian War with Athens.
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440 BCEHoplites become increasingly lighter-armoured, as new battle tactics required more mobility.
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425 BCEAthenian and Corinthian hoplites fight a street battle in the suburbs of Solygeia.
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424 BCEA force of Athenian peltasts defeat Spartan hoplites on Sphaktria in the Peloponnese.
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422 BCESpartan general Brasidas employs Myrkinian and Chalkidian peltasts to defeat a force of Athenian hoplites at Amphipolis.
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390 BCEAthenian leader Iphikrates employs peltasts to defeat Spartan hoplites at Lechaion near Corinth.
