{"product_id":"the-battle-of-mantinea-362-b-c-epaminondas-thebes-and-the-limits-of-tactical-victory-paperback","title":"The Battle of Mantinea 362 B.C.: Epaminondas, Thebes, and the Limits of Tactical Victory - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eAntonios Athenaeus\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVictory at Mantinea did not reshape Greece. It revealed the limits of power.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 362 B.C., the Greek world stood exhausted after decades of war. Sparta had fallen from supremacy. Athens sought recovery. Thebes, under Epaminondas, had risen through tactical innovation and bold leadership. Mantinea became the final test of that ascendancy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book examines the Battle of Mantinea not simply as a clash of hoplite phalanxes, but as a decisive operational moment in the struggle for dominance in classical Greece. It analyzes the political fragmentation of the Greek world, the coalition aligned against Thebes, and the strategic pressures that forced confrontation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the center stands Epaminondas - architect of the oblique order and master of force concentration. His deepened left wing, concealed maneuver, and decisive massing of combat power are examined as elements of a coherent battlefield doctrine. The coalition response, the cavalry engagements, and the stabilization attempts of the allied line are assessed with tactical precision.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMantinea demonstrates a crucial military principle: tactical brilliance does not automatically translate into strategic success. Though the Theban assault shattered the enemy line, the death of Epaminondas transformed victory into strategic uncertainty. Greece did not gain a hegemon. It entered a vacuum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing on ancient sources including Xenophon and Diodorus, this study reconstructs the battle with clarity and discipline. The volume includes: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- A full political and strategic background of late Classical Greece\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Order of battle and force composition\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Step-by-step battlefield reconstruction\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Tactical diagrams and deployment analysis\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Chronological timeline of the Theban ascendancy\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Operational and strategic lessons relevant to modern military thought\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten for readers of military history, strategy, and classical warfare, this volume moves beyond romantic narrative to examine how leadership, structure, and decision-making shape the outcome of war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMantinea was not the triumph of Thebes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was the end of the classical balance of power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 176\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.41 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 19, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47856404562141,"sku":"9798233065774","price":36.26,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/9867\/8237\/files\/V8nM0_-rQR9798233065774.webp?v=1777323488","url":"https:\/\/handfulofbooks.com\/products\/the-battle-of-mantinea-362-b-c-epaminondas-thebes-and-the-limits-of-tactical-victory-paperback","provider":"Handful of Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}