"The difference between prehistoric and ancient warfare is more organization oriented than technology oriented."
The study of ancient Greek and Roman military tactics, weaponry, and warfare.
The Rise of Militaristic Cultures: This topic explores the origins of militaristic cultures and how they developed into organized armies. It includes the ways in which societies came to rely on aggression and conquest as central to their power and identity.
Weapons and Tactics: This topic focuses on the weaponry and battle strategies used by ancient armies. It examines the development and use of weapons such as swords, spears, shields, and bows, as well as tactics such as sieges and cavalry charges.
Leadership and Command: This topic covers the different models of leadership that existed in ancient times, as well as the qualities that made military leaders successful. It includes case studies of successful and unsuccessful military leaders in different cultures.
Logistics and Supplies: This topic explores how ancient armies were supplied and how they moved across long distances. It includes assessments of supply trains and storage facilities, as well as the role of logistics in determining the outcome of battles.
Sieges and Fortifications: This topic delves into the ways ancient armies besieged and defended cities and fortresses. It includes case studies of famous sieges and the development and use of fortifications such as walls, trenches, and towers.
Naval Warfare: This topic looks at how ancient armies fought at sea and the development of naval technology such as boats, ships, and sea walls. It also covers naval tactics and strategies, such as blockades and amphibious assaults.
Cavalry and Chariots: This topic focuses on the use of mounted soldiers and chariots in ancient warfare. It explores how cavalry and chariot units were organized, armed, and trained, as well as how they were deployed on the battlefield.
The Role of Religion: This topic examines the significance of religion in ancient military culture. It looks at how religious beliefs and practices affected military strategy and morale, as well as how military victories were attributed to divine intervention.
Warfare and Society: This topic explores the relationship between war and society, including how warfare affected everyday life and how military service was valued in different ancient cultures. It also covers the economic and political aspects of warfare and how they affected societies.
"The development of first city-states, and then empires, allowed warfare to change dramatically."
"States produced sufficient agricultural surplus. This allowed full-time ruling elites and military commanders to emerge."
"While the bulk of military forces were still farmers..."
"These new armies were able to help states grow in size and become increasingly centralized."
"The end of antiquity is often equated with the Fall of Rome in 476 AD, the wars of the Eastern Roman Empire on its Southwestern Asian and North African borders, and the beginnings of the Muslim conquests in the 7th century."
"It can also be seen as ending of the growing role of mounted warriors needed to counter the ever-growing threat from the north in the 5th century..."
"The ancient period ends with the decline of the Gupta Empire (6th century) and the beginning of the Muslim conquests there from the 8th century."
"In Japan, the ancient period is considered to end with the rise of feudalism in the Kamakura period in the 12–13th century."
"Early ancient armies continued to primarily use bows and spears."
"The findings at the site of Nataruk in Turkana, Kenya, have been interpreted as evidence of inter-group conflict and warfare in antiquity."
"The infantries at this time would be divided into ranged and shock, with shock infantry either charging to cause penetration of the enemy line or hold their own."
"These forces would ideally be combined, thus presenting the opponent with a dilemma: group the forces and leave them vulnerable to ranged, or spread them out and make them vulnerable to shock."
"This balance would eventually change as technology allowed for chariots, cavalry, and artillery to play an active role on the field."
"No clear line can be drawn between ancient and medieval warfare."
"The characteristic properties of medieval warfare, notably heavy cavalry and siege engines such as the trebuchet were first introduced in Late Antiquity."
"The main division within the ancient period is at the beginning Iron Age with the introduction of cavalry (resulting in the decline of chariot warfare), of naval warfare (Sea Peoples), and the development of an industry based on ferrous metallurgy."
"The first military power to profit from these innovations was the Neo-Assyrian Empire..."
"...achieved a hitherto unseen extent of centralized control, the first 'world power' to extend over the entire Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt)."
"...the development of an industry based on ferrous metallurgy which allowed for the mass production of metal weapons and thus the equipment of large standing armies."