Midterm Flashcards
What are the three C’s of how societies organize for war and dictate the way they mobilize and fight?
Calculation: Human decision
Capacity: The resources available (human, physical and perhaps political) to generate military force
Culture: The way a society or group of people understand how things should be done
When does evidence establish warfare as existing since and probably before?
Since 10,000 BCE during the Agricultural Revolution.
What came as a result due to the Agricultural Revolution?
Intensified conflict due to need/desire to protect resources and animals.
When did military history originate and what did it focus on?
It originated in the 19th century and was associated with military education, mostly focused on combat, strategy, and politics/theory. Evolved post 1945 into large academic field then expanded further.
Who was Sargon of Akkad and what was significant about him and his endeavours?
Sargon of Akkad (2340-2284 BCE) founded the first super state, the Akkadian Empire which extended control over other cities and tore down their walls. His rule marked the beginning of long succession of Near Eastern empires.
What was the campaign of Sargon II
The Campaign of Sargon II in 714 BC was launched in present day eastern Turkey to make client states and protect trade routes. It showcased the versatility, skill and professionalism of the Assyrian Army.
When did the chariot appear, where did it originate, what was required of states to utilize them and why were they significant?
The chariot appeared c. 2000 BCE, it is associated with and originating from central Eurasia. It required innovations in state capacity in order to produce, maintain and deploy them. They shaped the way ancient civilizations and civilizations for hundreds of years after fought.
It created a strata of warrior elites which created a greater political need to satisfy warrior nobility.
What is the Battle of Kadesh?
The Battle of Kadesh took place in 1274 BCE. It was a war between the Egyptians and the Hittites.
What was the Shang Dynasty?
The Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE) was an expansionist state with bronze armed warrior elites and fortified cities. It fragmented into competing states with vast chariot forces after 700 BCE which lead to an explosion of culture.
What was significant about the Battle of Kadesh?
Both the Egyptians and Hittites amassed thousands of chariots and both sides brought state capacity to new levels amassing huge armies/chariot forces. This proved unsustainable and required diplomatic innovation (capacity).
Why were the (Neo) Assyrians so strong and what military innovation originated with them/was made stronger by them?
The Assyrians were so strong because they were a martial oriented culture and engaged in aggressive warfare. Their success was driven by siege warfare. They imported ideas from enemies, incorporated neighbours and defeated enemies into army. Innovations made cavalry viable, outnumbered chariots 10 to 1.
What did the Battle of Kadesh result in?
It resulted in the loss of the Egyptians and lead to the creation of the first known peace treaty in history.
What replaced the Shang Dynasty?
The Zhou dynasty replaced them in 1000 BCE due to a greater use of chariots.
What caused the fall of the Assyrian Empire?
Over expansionism left the empire vulnerable to rebellions and foreign attacks. Babylonians, Persians and others took advantage of this and attacked Assyria
What did chariots encourage?
Chariots encouraged innovations in state capacity in order to produce, maintain, and deploy them.
Summarize the early states
Early states were ruled by warrior elites with dedicated military equipment, made war an institution with systems in place to mobilize men and resource. How people fought changed.
What lead to the creation of Empires?
Threats from neighbours, desire to secure labour and resources, aggrandizement of elites, incentivized conquest.
What did state formation lead to?
State formation lead to increased capacity and specialized labour. Specialized labour meant specialized equipment for war.
What was notable about the Assyrians?
Assyrians based their state on war with best/most innovative army to date, superior administration and propaganda. They unified the Near East.
They established the value of cavalry and set a model for the organization of army and empire.
Who was Cyrus the Great? (6th cent. BC)
A Persian/Median ruler who conquered the Babylonian Empire. His tolerance made him welcome as a liberator.
