Pre-19th Century Warfare

[EuphoricAsianNormie]

The fundamental difference between warfare before the 19th century and warfare afterwards is that war before the 19th century was largely waged by a genetically pre-determined and selectively bred warrior class. War since the 19th century relied on conscription from commoners who generally had no prior experience of military engagement in their lineage.

These warrior classes comprised of taller, larger framed, more robust individuals than the average population.

Most castles and buildings all around the world were built by these giants as fortifications.

 

[Lundgren]

This is more of a myth and mainly applies to nomadic peoples. Most wars were fought using peasant levies with a core strike force of elite tribesmen/nobles.

 

[EuphoricAsianNormie]

This is more of a myth and mainly applies to nomadic peoples. Most wars were fought using peasant levies with a core strike force of elite tribesmen/nobles.

The average Mongolian is not only shorter than the average White American, but also shorter than the average northern Chinese, Uyghur, and Kazakh.

The only reason why Mongols are stereotyped as tall is because most of the Mongols who invaded foreigner territories were the tall warrior warrior class specifically bred for the purpose of war.

It is like how African-Americans are the reason why Blacks are stereotyped as tall, but the average black on a global scale is shorter than the average East Asian.

 

[Lundgren]

The average Mongolian is not only shorter than the average White American, but also shorter than the average northern Chinese, Uyghur, and Kazakh.

The only reason why Mongols are stereotyped as tall is because most of the Mongols who invaded foreigner territories were the tall warrior warrior class specifically bred for the purpose of war.

It is like how African-Americans are the reason why Blacks are stereotyped as tall, but the average black on a global scale is shorter than the average East Asian.

They weren't taller but more adept to warfare. Their lifestyle grew them to be tough, relentless warriors each worth 100 chinese peasants. That's the same reason why bohemia hired cumans, byzantium hired cumans, persians hired turkomans, ottomans and russians cossacks, etc. The tribal, nomadic people who lived in harsh conditions make great warriors. The development of guns also decreased the power of horses which all these tribes relied on.

 

[EuphoricAsianNormie]

They weren't taller but more adept to warfare. Their lifestyle grew them to be tough, relentless warriors each worth 100 chinese peasants. That's the same reason why bohemia hired cumans, byzantium hired cumans, persians hired turkomans, ottomans and russians cossacks, etc. The tribal, nomadic people who lived in harsh conditions make great warriors. The development of guns also decreased the power of horses which all these tribes relied on.

I would say that the Napoleonic Wars were the first wars that normalized obligatory conscription.

 

[Lundgren]

I would say that the Napoleonic Wars were the first wars that normalized obligatory conscription.

Rome did have conscription too for centuries but those were special times. In the 2nd punic war the romans lost so many men that a quarter of the adult male population were made into soldiers. Hannibal had elite tribal troops from many places but the most elite of all were his numidian cavarly that with their combat experience were easily the best horsemen on earth. Hannibal lost because at the end the romans also had numidian cavalry.

Almost all tribal warrior types are united by the factor of mobility. Horses, camels, ships or uncontested land.