The army of Ptolemaic Egypt was a well-organized fighting force trained in Hellenistic warfare. The Ptolemaic dynasty used their considerable wealth to maintain a large standing army of professional soldiers. Some troops were paid in money, and others were given farmland in exchange for service. In wartime, military expenditure could represent more than three-quarters of national spending.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemaic_Army/.
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- Was giving soldiers land a smart way to build loyalty?
- How do you think having many different peoples in the army affected Egypt?
- Do you think using mercenaries made the Ptolemaic army stronger or weaker?
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