Re: Army strenghts
Yeah, imagine that 100 000 soldiers need as much supplies as city with 100 000 inhabitants (i.e.: sizeable). That`s why one should always look with suspicion if sources tell of armies hundreds of thousands strong. You simply can`t put a city of 100 000 in the middle of nowhere (i.e in the field) and expect it to survive for long with ancient era logistics (and budgets).Logistics, Logistics, Logistics.
Re: Army strenghts
Actually 100.000 soldiers consume plenty more supplies than 100.000 inhabitants of a city. Not only must a soldier eat more than a regular person, he has to be equipped with everything that he needs to fight, he has to be supplied with some services to remain in his occupation (leather working, iron working, shaving, haircuts, medicine, etc...).All this must be done while on campaign, so it's that much more difficult and hence more expensive to get it to him.Originally Posted by Woreczko
It explains why a certain area can only support so many warriors in the field, until your culture gets away from a simple agrarian economy into one that has more emphasis on long-range trade.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”
-- Oscar Wilde
Re: Army strenghts
...and ultimately transporting bulk consumables overland was economically impossible anyway, and armies simply resorted to "living off the land" ("a polite euphemism for some very rude activities," notes one historian).
Last edited by Watchman; 03-16-2008 at 23:11.
"Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. --- Proof of the existence of the FSM, if needed, can be found in the recent uptick of global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Apparently His Pastaness is to be worshipped in full pirate regalia. The decline in worldwide pirate population over the past 200 years directly corresponds with the increase in global temperature. Here is a graph to illustrate the point."
-Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Re: Army strenghts
Depends on the size of the army. Which is what we're talking here
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”
-- Oscar Wilde
Re: Army strenghts
Not as the transportation goes, though. The problem there is that it simply doesn't take very long for whatever beast of burden is used to eat more foodstuffs than it can carry...
Last edited by Watchman; 03-17-2008 at 00:16.
"Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. --- Proof of the existence of the FSM, if needed, can be found in the recent uptick of global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Apparently His Pastaness is to be worshipped in full pirate regalia. The decline in worldwide pirate population over the past 200 years directly corresponds with the increase in global temperature. Here is a graph to illustrate the point."
-Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Re: Army strenghts
Indeed, but that's why you prepare supply depots before a campaign. Pretty common stuff even in Roman times.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”
-- Oscar Wilde
Re: Army strenghts
Well yeah, but doing that kind of advance preparation gets kind of tricky once you leave friendly territory.
Most just took the easy way out and pillaged the peasants there.
"Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. --- Proof of the existence of the FSM, if needed, can be found in the recent uptick of global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Apparently His Pastaness is to be worshipped in full pirate regalia. The decline in worldwide pirate population over the past 200 years directly corresponds with the increase in global temperature. Here is a graph to illustrate the point."
-Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
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