Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/372

 366 THE REVOLUTIONS. BOOK IV". for some time, as we shall see by and by, a principle of social organization. There is one other change of which we must speak, for it greatly aided the lower class to rise — the change that took place in the military art. In the first ages of the history of cities, the strengtli of armies was in their cavalry. The real warrior was the one who- fought from a horse or from a chariot. The foot- soldier, of little service in combat, was slightly es- teemed. The ancient aristocracy, therefore, every- where reserved to themselves the right to fight on horseback.' In some cities the nobles even gave them- selves the title of knights. The celeres of Romulus^ the Roman kipiglits of the earlier ages, were all patri- cians. Among the ancients the cavalry was always the noble arm. But by degrees infantry became more important. Improvement in the manufacture of arms, and in discipline, enabled it to resist cavalry. When this point was reached, infantry took the first rank in battle, for it was more manageable, and its manoeuvres easier. The legionaries and the hoplites thenceforth formed the main strength of armies. Now the lejrion- aries and the hoplites were plebeians. Add to tliis that maritime operations became more extended, es- pecially in Greece, that there were naval battles, and that the destiny of a city was often in the hands of the rowers — that is to say, of the plebeians. Now, a class that is strong enough to defend a people is strong enough to defend its rights, and to exercise a legiti- mate influence. Tiie social and political state of a nation always bears a certain relation to the nature and. composition of its armies. • Aristotle, Politics, VI. 3, 2.