History of warfare
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| Image:Ramses II at Kadesh.jpgImage:Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle at Breitenfeld.jpgImage:M1A1 abrams front.jpg |
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| History of Warfare |
| Eras |
| Prehistoric · Ancient · Medieval · Gunpowder · Industrial · Modern |
| Theaters |
| Aerial · Amphibious · Arctic · Desert · Jungle · Mountain · Naval · Ski · Space · Urban · |
| Weapons |
| Armoured · Artillery · Biological · Cavalry · Chemical · Electronic · Infantry · Information · Mechanized · Nuclear · Psychological · Radiological · Submarine |
| Tactics |
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Asymmetric · Attrition · Conventional · |
| Lists |
| Battles · Civil wars · Commanders · Invasions · Operations · Sieges · Tactics · Wars |
The history of warfare is the history of war and its evolution and development over time. The study of the history of war is known as military history.
Contents |
Periodization
One method of dividing such as massive topic is by cutting it into periods of time. While useful this method tends to be inaccurate and differences in geography mean there is little uniformity. What might be described as ancient warfare is still practiced in a number of parts of the world. Other eras that are distinct in European history, such as the era of Medieval warfare, may have little relevance in East Asia.
- Prehistoric warfare: Warfare before the development of centralized states.
- Ancient warfare: Primarily infantry warfare in the era before the stirrup.
- Medieval warfare: Cavalry dominate after the introduction of the stirrup but are displaced because of increasing numbers of English longbowmen and, finally, the development of gunpowder.
- Gunpowder warfare: Infantry, cavalry, and artillery work in unison.
- Industrial warfare: Rifling, steel, and the internal combustion engine greatly change the face of warfare.
- Modern warfare: Rapid communications, increased automation.
By theater
War can also be divided based on where it is being fought.
- Ground warfare, fighting on land
- Naval warfare, fighting on the sea
- Aerial warfare, fighting in the air
- Space warfare, fighting beyond the atmosphere
- Winter warfare, fighting during the winter
- Desert warfare, fighting in deserts
- Amphibious warfare, fighting from sea onto land
- Urban warfare, fighting in urban and built up environments
By weapon
The history of war can also be divided by the type of weapon used.
- Cavalry warfare
- Infantry warfare
- Submarine warfare
- Ski warfare
- Mechanized warfare
- Chemical warfare
- Nuclear warfare
- Biological warfare
- Radiological warfare
By strategy
By peoples
- Assyrian warfare
- Ancient Egyptian warfare
- Persian warfare
- Ancient Greek warfare
- Roman warfare
- Arab warfare
- Mongol warfare
- Crusader warfare
- Japanese warfare
- Chinese warfare
- Native American warfare
- Aztec warfare
By war
- List of wars
- List of civil wars
- List of battles
- List of invasions
- List of military operationsda:Militærhistorie
de:Kriegsgeschichte fr:Histoire militaire he:קטגוריה:היסטוריה צבאית hr:Vojna povijest ja:軍事史 ko:전쟁의 역사 ms:Sejarah ketenteraan nl:Militaire geschiedenis pt:História militar sl:Vojna zgodovina sv:Militärhistoria