12-28-2009, 08:33 PM
Hi Sean and Gäiten,
Indeed, there is infantry and infantry.
Sean, you are right that an aristocratic society always caused the commoners to lose interest in fighting, but the greater the difference in power between aristocracy and commoners, the greater the need for 'powerless' commoners. See the Late Roman period, where the state became more totalitarian, and citizens were forbiden to carry arms. In the East, this pattern was broken when the state realised that the needed a trained citizenry.
Indeed, the 'chained' infantry may be due to exaggeration or a translation error. The concept is difficult to believe - how does one chain together thousands of men? And how can they be of any use in that condition?
Gäiten, you are right - the early sassanian infantry was surely different from the later period.
Indeed, there is infantry and infantry.
Sean, you are right that an aristocratic society always caused the commoners to lose interest in fighting, but the greater the difference in power between aristocracy and commoners, the greater the need for 'powerless' commoners. See the Late Roman period, where the state became more totalitarian, and citizens were forbiden to carry arms. In the East, this pattern was broken when the state realised that the needed a trained citizenry.
Indeed, the 'chained' infantry may be due to exaggeration or a translation error. The concept is difficult to believe - how does one chain together thousands of men? And how can they be of any use in that condition?
Gäiten, you are right - the early sassanian infantry was surely different from the later period.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
