Spartan military success was largely attributed to the 'Phalanx' formation, which relied on:
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Correct answer: Overlapping shields and thrusting spears in tight formation
The hoplite phalanx arranged soldiers in tightly packed ranks, with each man's shield covering both himself and his neighbor's right side. Forward-thrust spears created a lethal hedge. The formation required the disciplined cohesion Spartans developed through the Agoge, making their phalanx the most feared in the Greek world.
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