Phalanx vs. Maniple

[ssu]

One should not that basically phalanxes were very popular starting again from the renaissance and onwards until what, the 18th Century? Of course then we talk about pike squares or Spanish tercios, but the basic idea is the same, even if there are obvious differences with the very large phalanx. But even then the negative aspects of the formation were obvious.

If the pikeman is great against the cavalry charge, he's not so good against a skilled swordsman that can close enough.

(Of course the real reason for the pikeman to become extinct is modern firearms and especially the bayonet, which makes a rifle a crude cold weapon.)

[Smitty-48]

Nothing ever gets completely jettisoned, the phalanx is still a viable formation now, although, you'd be using Abrams tanks instead of pikemen.