Lacking the city-states that allowed the development of the hoplite system, the more tribal Thracians were considered uncivilized by the more peninsular Greeks, who saw the area as ripe for expansion. The Thracian peltast were the centerpiece of the army, lightly armored javelin men who were excellent skirmishers, but couldnt stand up well to the force of the hoplites which made up the more southern armies. Of the hoplites, the ekdromoi were the most junior members of the force, composed of the youngest and fittest soldiers - the name translates as runners-out. In order to perform their duties they would shed much of their armor, enabling them to rush and pursue the skirmishers harrying the main body of hoplites.