"The difference between prehistoric and ancient warfare is more organization oriented than technology oriented."
The military strategies and tactics of ancient civilizations including weapons, armor, and battles.
Military strategy: The planning and execution of tactics and operations, including the mobilization of troops, selection of the battlefield, and engagement with the enemy.
Siege warfare: The art of surrounding and besieging fortified positions, typically involving the construction of defensive works and the use of various siege engines.
Infantry tactics: The methods employed by foot soldiers in battle, including the use of shields, swords, and strategies for phalanx formations.
Cavalry tactics: The use of mounted warriors on horseback, including the coordination of maneuvers and the use of lances, sabers, and other weapons.
Naval warfare: The use of ships, boats, and other watercraft in battle, including the construction of warships and the tactics used in naval engagements.
Logistics: The planning and execution of the movement of troops and supplies, including the use of transport animals, wagons, and other vehicles.
Military technology: The use of weapons and equipment, including primitive firearms, archery, and siege engines.
Intelligence gathering and espionage: The gathering of information about enemy movements and intentions, including the use of spies and scouts.
Diplomacy and political negotiations: The use of diplomatic channels to negotiate treaties and alliances, as well as to manage relationships with other states or factions.
Military organization and hierarchy: The structure and organization of military forces, including the roles and responsibilities of leaders and soldiers.
Mercenary armies: The use of professional soldiers for hire, including the recruitment and payment of mercenaries and their role in ancient warfare.
Conquest and empire-building: The establishment and expansion of empires through military conquest, including the use of force and the management of conquered territories.
Religion and warfare: The role of religion in ancient warfare, including the use of religious beliefs and practices to motivate soldiers and justify military campaigns.
Cultural differences and clashes: The impact of cultural differences on warfare, including the use of different tactics, weapons, and strategies in battles between different civilizations.
Mythology and warfare: The role of mythology and legends in ancient warfare, including the use of stories and symbols to inspire soldiers and promote national pride.
Siege Warfare: A prolonged battle intended to starve or weaken the enemy by surrounding or besieging their city.
Naval Warfare: Warfare on and under the sea, including ships and submarines.
Guerrilla Warfare: A hit-and-run strategy used by irregular forces to weaken a larger enemy by surprise attacks.
Cavalry Warfare: Warfare using mounted troops, often used for flanking maneuvers and swift offensives.
Infantry Warfare: Warfare using foot soldiers, including shields, spears, and swords.
Archery Warfare: Warfare using bows and arrows, often used to supplement other types of warfare.
Chariot Warfare: Warfare using two-wheeled chariots driven by horses, often used in ancient Egypt and Near East.
Biological Warfare: Warfare using disease and other biological weapons to weaken or kill the enemy, often used in ancient China.
Psychological Warfare: Warfare using deception, propaganda, and other tactics to weaken or demoralize the enemy.
Chemical Warfare: Warfare using toxins or poisonous gases to kill or disable the enemy, often used in ancient Greece and Rome.
"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."