Suppose the Macedonian Empire meets the Great Qin Empire that swept through Liuhe
If Alexander the Great continues to march eastward and encounters the Qin king, who is about to sweep the world, there is a high probability that war will break out between them. Because Alexander the Great was an ambitious conqueror, he would not easily abandon any potential target. And the State of Qin is a hegemon who has unified the six countries, and he will not tolerate any foreign invaders. Both sides have powerful military forces and political organizations, and the conflict between them is bound to lead to a war of unprecedented scale.
The outcome of this war is difficult to predict, as both sides have their own strengths and weaknesses. Alexander the Great had an elite Macedonian phalanx and hoplites, he was good at using flexible tactics and changing formations, and he also had a wealth of combat experience and intelligence on opponents.
The State of Qin had a huge population and resources, he had a large number of infantry and crossbowmen, he also had uniform laws and weights and measures, and he also had the Great Wall and other fortifications. If the two sides fight on the plains or mountains, I think Alexander the Great may have the upper hand, as he can use his speed and flexibility to break the formation and morale of the Qin state. But if the two sides fought on rivers or cities, I think the Qin state might have the upper hand, because he could use his numbers and defenses to withstand the onslaught and siege of Alexander the Great.
In any case, this war will certainly have a profound impact on world history.
If Alexander wins
If Alexander the Great could defeat the Qin state and incorporate it into his empire, he could become the world's first true world hegemon. He will integrate Western and Eastern cultures, religions, languages, science and technology, art, etc., to create an unprecedented diversified and open civilization. He may also continue his path of conquest, expanding into South Asia, Southeast Asia, and even Australia, incorporating the entire Eurasian continent into his territory. He may also change his political system and establish a more democratic and equitable social order, giving more freedoms and rights to all peoples and regions. He may also promote his own scientific development, promote progress in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, engineering and other fields, and bring more benefits and innovation to mankind.
If Windy wins
But if the Qin state can defeat Alexander the Great and drive him out of the Central Plains, then he may become the world's first true Chinese hegemon. He will unite all regions and ethnic groups in China more closely to create an unprecedented strong and stable civilization. He may also continue his path of reunification, continue to expand into the Western Regions, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese archipelago, and other regions, and incorporate the whole of East Asia into his territory. He may also change his cultural system to build a more enlightened and inclusive social ethos, giving more respect and development to all ideas and scholarship. He may also promote his own technological development, promote progress in agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, weapons and other fields, and bring more prosperity and security to the people.
Maybe there will be another ending...
Of course, these are just my imagination, in fact there may be many unforeseen factors and variables, resulting in completely different results and effects of the war. Perhaps there would not have been a war between Alexander the Great and the Qin state at all, but chose peaceful coexistence or alliance and cooperation. Perhaps the war between them will be deadlocked or both sides will be wounded, and it will not be possible to decide the outcome or affect history. Perhaps the war between them will trigger the intervention or resistance of other countries or forces, and change the situation or outcome of the war. Perhaps the war between them will lead to other changes or crises that will affect the survival or development of mankind.
The comprehensive strength of the Macedonian Empire and the Great Qin Empire
If two huge empires are going to go to war, we must first analyze their respective comprehensive strengths. Of course, this is a very interesting and complex hypothesis, because the two empires have never been in direct contact in history, and their culture, politics, economy and military are very different.
First, let's take a look at the basic situation of the Macedonian Empire and the Great Qin Empire:
The Macedonian Empire was founded between 334 BC and 323 BC by Alexander the Great (356 BC – 323 BC), who conquered the Persian Empire and Egypt and expanded eastward into the Indus Valley. His empire spanned three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, with a territory of 3.3 million square kilometers and a population of about 20 million.
The Great Qin Empire was founded in 221 BC by Qin Shi Huang (259 BC-210 BC), who unified the Chinese princely states and expanded to the north and south. His empire covered parts of the Central Plains, South China, Northwest and Northeast China, with a territory of 3.4 million square kilometers and a population of about 25 million to 30 million.
From these data, it can be seen that the territory of the Macedonian Empire is comparable to the Great Qin Empire, but the population is not much different. This shows that the territory of the Macedonian Empire had many deserts, mountains and forests that were not suitable for human habitation, while the Great Qin Empire was mainly located in the fertile Yellow River and Yangtze River basins.
Next, let's compare the economic power of the Macedonian Empire with the Great Qin Empire:
The economy of the Macedonian Empire was largely dependent on commercial trade and animal husbandry. They acquired vast amounts of gold and silver wealth and slave labor from conquered regions, trading with countries along the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean coasts. They also developed agriculture, but mainly for self-sufficiency, not for exports or taxes.
The economy of the Great Qin Empire was largely dependent on agricultural handicrafts. They introduced a unified system of currency, weights and measures, laws and writing, which promoted the development of the internal market. They also imposed heavy taxes and exorbitant taxes to maintain a large bureaucracy and army. They were hostile to merchants and restricted foreign trade.
From this information, it can be seen that the economy of the Macedonian Empire was more open and flexible, able to adapt to the needs of different regions and cultures. They also had more gold and silver reserves and luxury goods, showing their wealth. The economy of the Great Qin Empire was more closed and rigid, relying mainly on coercive measures to maintain order and efficiency. Although they have more human and material resources, they also face more burdens and pressures.
Finally, let's compare the military strength of the Macedonian Empire with the Great Qin Empire:
The military of the Macedonian Empire was dominated by cavalry and infantry, the most famous of which was the Macedonian phalanx. It was a dense formation of hoplites, armed with spears and shields, capable of fending off enemy cavalry and bow attacks, as well as counterattacking enemy infantry. The Macedonian cavalry was mainly responsible for flanking and pursuing enemy forces. The Macedonian army also has excellent generals and tactics, and can flexibly respond to different terrains and enemies.
The military of the Great Qin Empire was dominated by infantry, the most famous of which was the Qin Ruishi. This is an elite force of light infantry, armed with long swords and halberds, known for its bravery and speed. They do not wear armor or shields, but rely only on the momentum of the charge to make the enemy fearful. The Qin state also had cavalry, archers, and heavy ballistae, but in smaller numbers, mainly for reconnaissance and support. The Qin army also had a strict system of discipline and rewards and punishments, which was able to maintain efficient combat capabilities.
From these descriptions, it can be seen that the military of the Macedonian Empire was more balanced and diverse, able to play the advantages and synergies of different branches of the military. They also have more experience and innovation and are able to respond to different challenges and changes. The military of the Great Qin Empire was more monolithic and extreme, relying mainly on infantry assault and suppression, and there was long-range suppression equipped with crossbows. Although they have more soldiers and weapons, they also face more attrition and losses.
When the two empires went to war, what was the victory or defeat?
To sum up, the Macedonian Empire and the Great Qin Empire have their own advantages and disadvantages in comprehensive strength, and it is difficult to generalize. In the event of an all-out war between the two empires, the following scenarios may occur:
If Alexander the Great led the Macedonian army to attack the Great Qin Empire, he might encounter many difficulties. First of all, he needs to cross difficult terrain such as mountains, deserts, and grasslands, consuming a lot of materials and manpower. Secondly, he needed to face the powerful fortifications of the Qin State, such as the Great Wall, Pass, and Chengchi, which were difficult to break through or bypass. Third, he needed to deal with the frontal onslaught of the Qin Kingdom's brave army, especially Qin Ruishi, which could cause heavy casualties. Finally, he needs to consider the stability and security of the rear to avoid being attacked or destroyed by other hostile forces or insurgents.
If Qin Shi Huang led the Great Qin army to attack the Macedonian Empire, he might encounter many challenges. First of all, he needed to mobilize a large number of soldiers and materials to travel through the Western Regions, Central Asia, Persia and other regions, taking huge risks and costs. Secondly, he needs to adapt to different climates and environments, such as cold, drought, plague, etc., to prevent the sickness and death of soldiers. Again, he needs to counter the military superiority of Macedonia, such as the mobility of cavalry, the stability of the phalanx, the command ability of the generals, etc., to avoid being passive or preoccupied. Finally, he also needed to consider the domestic situation and popular sentiment to prevent it from being used or subverted by other vassal states or anti-Qin forces.
If two empires fight a decisive battle in a neutral area, they may show their own characteristics and styles. The Macedonian Empire may adopt flexible tactics, using the cooperation of cavalry and phalanx to find the enemy's weaknesses and flaws, and carry out breakthroughs and pursuits. The Great Qin Empire may adopt an unwavering strategy, using the suppression of infantry and archers to form a dense attack formation to charge and suppress. The armies of the two empires may engage in fierce confrontation and contest on the battlefield, resulting in heavy losses and sacrifices on both sides.
In short, an all-out war between the Macedonian Empire and the Great Qin Empire is an extremely complex and difficult hypothetical scenario without a simple and definitive answer. Both empires have their own strengths and weaknesses, and victory or defeat may depend on many factors, such as geography, politics, economy, military, culture, characters, psychology, etc.
History has no ifs, but as a small editor with a brain hole bigger than a head, I want to try to describe the scene of Alexander the Great and the Armageddon on the plains with the Emperor of Yingzheng.
On a vast plain, two powerful armies face each other, and this is the place of the final decisive battle. The two empires have fought many times before, winning and losing each other, and the Macedonian phalanx with both merit and defense has given the god of war a headache, and the overwhelming rain of arrows of the Qin army has made Jean Tomil tired of coping. Today is the day of the decisive battle, and the elites of both sides have come out, vowing to fight a battle!
On one side was the army of the Qin Empire, and the Qin Emperor was personally conscripted, sitting on a gorgeous chariot protected by several guards. He gazed grimly at Alexander the Great in the distant position, secretly calculating the fighter in his heart. Killing God Bai Qi took the lead, left and right were Wang Chu, Meng Tian, Li Xin and other famous generals, and at the end there was a young general, a black horse in the crotch, a back bow across the sword and a halberd, eyes heavy, although he joined the army for a short time, but heroic and already ranked as a general. The three armies are like warriors wearing armor and holding halberds and swords, with rows of staggered crossbows in the center, and the two wings are composed of cavalry, ready to attack.
On the other side was a battle formation composed of dozens of Macedonian phalanxes, their hoplites, light infantry and cavalry were equipped with shields to protect against the Qin army's crossbow array, each phalanx was composed of generals, and more than a thousand soldiers, they held their shields high and used spears up to six meters long to form a dense thorn forest, which was difficult to break. The commander of Macedonia was, of course, Alexander the Great, riding a black war horse followed by his guards. He stared resolutely at the enemy in front of him, his heart full of challenge and the desire for adventure. Tomil, Cassander, Antikonos and other famous players are also listed.
The two armies were hundreds of meters apart, and the atmosphere was tense and silent. Suddenly, a trumpet sounded in the sky, the army of the Qin Empire suddenly staggered, revealing the crossbow array behind it, a rain of arrows whistled away, straight to the Macedonian phalanx, in the face of such a battle, the Macedonian army did not hurriedly raise its shield, as if it had been prepared. Alexander couldn't help but sneer in his heart, every time it's this, let go of the arrow before you start fighting? Just as he was proud, a wail from the phalanx interrupted Alexander's train of thought, it turned out that after the first few waves of arrow rain, it was followed by huge stones falling from the sky, and the Qin army took advantage of the Macedonian army to raise its shield to block the line of sight, and actually changed the ballista into a stone throwing instrument. If before, the flying boulder was slow and low, it would be easy to dodge, but now in order to prevent the rain of arrows of the Qin army, the Macedonian army thickened its armor and shield, plus the shield blocked the line of sight, and for a while, the damage was heavy.
At this moment, the Qin army waved another wave and the three armies began to advance forward. They were divided into three routes, with infantry in the center and cavalry and archers on the left and right wings. They shouted and rushed towards the Macedonian phalanx, trying to disrupt the enemy's formation. Seeing the enemy rushing, the well-trained Macedonian soldiers quickly stabilized their positions, and the phalanx did not move, but slowly retreated, maintaining close contact. When the Qin army approached a certain distance, Macedonian archers and stone throwers began to shoot arrows and throw stones, causing certain casualties to the Qin army. But the Qin army did not stop, and they continued to charge forward.
It was at this time that Alexander the Great gave the order to attack. He led his elite cavalry to suddenly break through from the right flank and launched a fierce assault on the left flank of the Qin army. Using speed and flexibility, they tore a hole in the Qin army's defenses, and then quickly turned to the middle in an attempt to cut off the main force of the Qin army. Seeing this, Qin Shi Huang was shocked and quickly sent his own guards to face Alexander the Great. The two cavalry fought fiercely on the plain, swords and shadows, flesh and blood.
At the same time, the Qin army and the Macedonian phalanx also officially clashed. The Qin army tried to pierce the defenses of the phalanx with spears and swords, but the Macedonian phalanx counterattacked with longer and heavier spears, making it difficult for the Qin army to approach. The two sides fought each other in the thorny forest, killing and wounding heavily. Although the Macedonian phalanx was smaller in number than the Qin army and suffered losses before it was launched, it had better training and discipline, and they constantly changed formations and tactics, causing great trouble to the Qin army. Although the Qin army was brave and tenacious, it could not break through the encirclement of the phalanx.
The battle lasted for hours, with both sides paying a heavy price, but still not being able to divide the winner or loser. Both Qin Shi Huang and Alexander the Great were commanding their own troops, trying to find fighters. At this moment, a gust of wind swept up the dust all over the ground and covered the sky. Both armies temporarily ceased fighting and waited for the wind and sand to clear. But when the wind and sand cleared, they were surprised to find that the enemy on the opposite side had disappeared. It turned out that this was an illusory dream, and the two great kings just met in a dream and had a virtual showdown. They all woke up from their dreams and felt a pang of dazed and lost. They all want to know who would be the final victor if the battle were real.
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