Introduction:
As one of the four ancient civilizations, ancient Egypt created a splendid civilization system. Although we can no longer witness the development of ancient Egyptian civilization today, we can also glimpse the wonderfulness of that time from many historical records.
A splendid civilization requires a strong state to create. And a strong country needs a strong army to provide support.
The military strength of ancient Egyptian civilization directly determines the brilliance and brilliance of civilization. It is precisely because the army has systematic training, sharp weapons, and advanced management systems that the national defense and security of ancient Egypt can be guaranteed.
In a stable social environment, ancient Egyptian civilization created a variety of achievements that attracted the attention of the world.
From the perspective of the two levels of troop establishment and weapon use in ancient Egypt, what are the characteristics of its army? What was the development of the ancient Egyptian kingdom?
Offensive weapons, different
The ancient Egyptian country, which created an excellent and brilliant civilization, did not have as strong an army as we thought.
In most people's stereotypes, the armies of Western primitive societies are always mixed with some ineffable elements of science. But in fact, the army building system in ancient Egypt was simpler than people thought.
From the offensive weapons they used, we can see that in the same era background, the combat effectiveness of the armies of various countries has not evolved to the point of strength.
The weapons used by the ancient Egyptians were actually very rudimentary.
They had specialized archers in their army, and bows and arrows were also a very common weapon.
Ancient Egyptian bows and arrows are not like the bows and arrows we see in costume dramas, they have a certain weight and are extremely lethal. Their bows and arrows are lighter in mass, have a short range, are not strong in texture, and are very susceptible to damage.
Usually, archers in the army are only suitable for long-distance combat. At ranges within 30m, their archers are able to function. But beyond this distance, lightly armed archers are not of much use.
The ancient Egyptians had limited defensive equipment, so archers who fought at a distance were not eligible to wear defensive equipment. They don't have to fight hand-to-hand with the enemy, nor do they have to worry about the enemy's weapons slashing at themselves. Therefore, defensive equipment is really a waste for them.
Soldiers who fight at close range need to use these rare resources.
Archers generally go into battle shirtless, fighting and retreating. They also have a matching weapon on their side, which is the dagger used closely.
The dagger exists just in case, if the warrior in front of the archer, the defense line they set up is broken by the enemy, the enemy will come to the archer.
At close range, the bow and arrow will be completely useless. The archer can only pull out the dagger he carries with him and fight the enemy to break the net.
On the battlefields of the ancient Egyptian kingdom, archers were also the focus of the army's protection.
Training an archer is not easy, they need to keep a cool head on a complex battlefield, they need to have a strong eye, and they need precision. There are not many such talents, and they have become the "giant pandas" in the army.
Bows and arrows are not used very frequently in the military, and the most frequently used weapon is the hammer.
In the two different phases, the ancient Egyptian army used different hammer materials.
In the Stone Age, warriors in the army would polish stones into different shapes to make them perform different functions. The hammer is one of them, and it will be presented as a battlefield weapon.
The harder hammer also weighs more, which can be extremely burdensome for soldiers. There are actually very few people in the army who have the strength to use stone hammers.
And although the stone is hard, it still looks a little backward compared to specially made metal weapons. If the armies of the two sides meet on the battlefield, one side uses metal weapons and the other uses stone hammers, the latter will surely lose.
In order to achieve the replacement of weapons, the ancient Egyptian army was also studying the production method of metal weapons.
As smelting and mining techniques matured, they began to use iron and copper to make hammers.
Iron and copper hammers are harder in texture, less prone to deformation, and their lethality increases exponentially. The most important thing is that their quality has been reduced, and the soldiers have become more convenient to use, and they no longer need to consume huge physical strength.
In equal terms, metal weapons are of course more advanced. The ancient Egyptian army, which possessed metal weapons, also multiplied its combat effectiveness.
But the hammer also has a flaw, that is, it is not flexible enough. While maintaining lethality, weapon manufacturers cannot guarantee sufficient flexibility. So sometimes soldiers are burdened by the hammer and lose the opportunity to fight back.
Speaking of which, then it is necessary to mention a weapon that is relatively comprehensive in attack and defense, the spear.
Spears were also very common in ancient Egyptian armies.
When fighting at a distance, the spear can be used as a bow and arrow. It's just that the bow of the original archer has become the soldiers' own arms.
They rely on the strength of their arms to throw their spears so that they hit the target. Moreover, the lethality of the spear is stronger than that of ordinary bows and arrows, so as long as it is accurate enough, the spear can achieve a fatal effect with one blow.
In close combat, the spear can also be used as an extremely adaptable weapon.
Its ends are very sharp and extremely harmful. If the enemy hits both ends of the spears of the ancient Egyptian army, there is no way back. Its long pole can also play a defensive role, which can block the enemy's sharp weapons and give the ancient Egyptian soldiers the possibility of survival.
In later training to improve the combat effectiveness of the army, the commanders of ancient Egypt also pointed out that they needed to popularize the use of spears in the army. The Chinese art of war says "one inch long, one inch strong; One inch is short, one inch is dangerous" is also applicable on foreign battlefields.
The last weapon, that is, the axe.
This weapon is not ordinary, it is known as the "noble weapon" in the ancient Egyptian army. The pharaohs of the ancient Egyptian kingdom, as well as the noble commanders in the army, used tomahawks.
In the pyramids of Egypt, the remains of axes have also been found. It is made of precious materials and belongs to the status of the pharaoh.
Ordinary army generals can also use tomahawks. However, their tomahawks are relatively rudimentary and only lethal, not ornamental.
As for the lowest soldiers, they do not have the right to use Tomahawks.
In the ancient Egyptian army, the division of rank and status was already very clear. The traditional ancient civilization empires almost all have such characteristics.
Army building is on the agenda
When they first landed on the battlefield, the soldiers of the ancient Egyptian army were fighting separately, without a system or a clear direction, looking like a swarm of headless flies.
They often pay a great price and reap very small gains. The inputs and outputs of the war as a whole were disproportionate, and a large number of soldiers in the army died from backward management systems and training methods.
If the army had been allowed to develop in such a rambling manner, ancient Egypt would never have been able to establish superiority on the battlefield. In order to gain the initiative in the war, they must make changes in the military system.
Therefore, the important work of army building has also been put on the agenda.
The first is the army management system, in the past there was no clear leader and commander in the army, and the soldiers did not have a clear strategy and tactics when fighting.
If one person in the army determines the general direction and has different commanders directing the direction of battle, then the combat efficiency of the army will inevitably be greatly improved.
Therefore, the first thing to do is to select the person who is popular among all the soldiers, and appoint him as the commander of the army, who is responsible for the unified command and movement of the army.
Since then, ancient Egyptian soldiers have become more organized and more strategic on the battlefield. In terms of management system alone, they are already ahead of other countries' militaries.
As for the training method, this is also where it needs to be updated.
Before the formation of a systematic management system, the training of the ancient Egyptian army was very blind. There is no fixed training time, no clear training venue, and no targeted training plan.
These three are directly related to the final training results of the army.
Clear time is for everyone to develop regularity, be able to quickly mobilize excited nerves on the battlefield, and devote themselves to the battlefield. The clear point is to let everyone develop discipline, not to make a big move at any time and at any time, and to truly distinguish military training from other work.
As for a clear training plan, this is even more necessary. Soldiers who do not shoot accurately enough need to consciously improve their accuracy in training.
Soldiers who do not have enough strength need to increase the proportion of physical training in training. Soldiers with insufficient hand-to-hand combat skills need to train in pairs and have rich experience.
Only by clarifying one's weaknesses and shortcomings and developing a training plan to overcome one's weaknesses can every soldier truly improve.
When a mature and perfect training model is gradually established, the combat effectiveness of the ancient Egyptian army will usher in a qualitative leap.
In terms of weapons and equipment, they are also ready to upgrade.
After each battle, the military leadership conducts a conscious review. In addition to the specific operation of offensive and defensive conversion, there is also the problem of weapon upgrading.
They will always provide soldiers with weapons that are more in line with the actual combat scenario according to the needs of the new battlefield. For example, when attacking a city, the proportion of spears and bows and arrows will increase.
In order to enhance the combat effectiveness of the army, professional weapon manufacturers will continue to improve raw materials and production methods, so that the army can rise quickly and quickly grasp the initiative of victory.
Kingdom development, associated with it
When it comes to the development of the ancient Egyptian kingdom, one has to mention a special dynasty, the Ptolemaic dynasty.
This dynasty belonged to foreign invaders who forcibly invaded the land of ancient Egypt and ruled it for nearly 260 years.
The way they trained their armies was different from the traditional ancient Egypt. Their advanced experience also brought many enlightenments to the ancient Egyptian army.
Among them, the most commendable are two teams, one is the Janissaries and the other is the cavalry.
The Janissaries are true all-rounders, capable of designing weapons, crafting weapons, charging and lining up. They are an elite team, and it is easy to be one for ten.
This is the prototype of the earliest special forces in the ancient Egyptian kingdom, and it is also the real king of the army.
As for the cavalry, it was a contingent formed specifically for foreign wars.
It is well known that when cavalry and infantry meet in a narrow way, the former will have an absolute advantage. Ancient Egypt itself also had the conditions to raise war horses, as long as these unique conditions were used reasonably, they could cultivate an elite cavalry force.
On the real battlefield, this force will be invincible and create one miracle after another.
Epilogue:
Hidden behind the glorious and splendid ancient Egyptian civilization is the powerful army of ancient Egypt. They have unique experience in the use of weapons, and they have constantly improved in army management and training, constantly adapting to the requirements of the times.
The strong military strength provided a strong guarantee for this land and also created conditions for the blooming of ancient Egyptian civilization.
Resources:
"The System of Ancient Egyptian Civilization"
Military History of the World