Who won, Alexander the Great or Porus?

[Fisherking]

Actually, Alexander’s army weren’t Greeks. They were Macedonians. Don’t read in too much Greek nationalism into to it. All that came later.

The army was the first full time army we have in recorded history. Professional soldiers drilled in their tactics and well trained. They used combined arms tactics and had specialized troops for specific roles.

These were all innovations and changed how armies fought. It was what allowed them to go so far.

No one else was able to do it because no one else had such an advantage. It is usually the same with any conquering army. They make some advance in tactics or technology that gives them great advantage over others which allows them to do spectacular things.

At some point something stops them. Armies adapt to counter their advantage and things stabilize.

The Phalanx was the major system for a while and was defeated by the manipular later.

Horse archers in mass were rulers of the battlefield for a time too but innovations and technology finds ways to defeat past developments.

Something new always comes a long.

Nationalism really plays little part. People think these things up. Individuals! Then their nations want to take the credit.