Reflection: what makes a good leader in war?
[insert quote contrasting Patton vs. Bradley]"I don't like a tall general nor one in braids or proud with his curls or part shaved under the chin, but for me he should be short and around his knees bowlegged to behold, standing firm on his feet, full of heart." - Archilochus
Nobody quite agrees what makes a good leader in war. Is the best military commander one of the rank and file, or heads and shoulders above the rest? Does the good commander risk his life alongside his men, or is this irresponsible and selfish? But if the commander hangs back from battle, does he really suffer the consequences of his actions?
Greeks and Romans had all sorts of conflicting pictures of great military leaders. Caesar paints a very specific picture of himself, which we will unpack in detail later in this module.
But first: what do you think makes a good leader in war?
Listening for Leadership
We'll review your thoughts and write up a summary picture or two (or three or four..depending on how similar your answers are). This will serve as a snapshot of our initial thoughts about military leadership, before we start digging deep into Caesar.