03-21-2011, 11:29 PM
Well medieval is a very broad and comprehensive term. Also, "dark age", or early middle ages, usually refers to the time period from the fall of rome until about 1000 AD, while the "middle ages" or high middle ages refers from about 1000 to 1450 AD.
As to the military capabalities, you'd have to narrow the medieval army to a specific time or place. For example, a first century Roman army would likely be more than a match for 9th century Vikings or Saxons..
Although against a 1350's English army, the Roman force would likely lose. The Romans would have better orginization, but the English would have armoured knights (with strirrups, lances and longswords), longbows, cannon, considerably more advanced armour, and superior technology in general.
The English army would likely consist of Archers, mounted knights, and dismounted knights and men-at-arms. (no unarmed peasants.)
A first century Roman army would have been primairly an infantry force, supported by light cavalary and perhaps auxullary archers and slingers.
I don't know how well a longbow arrow would penetrate a scutum, though I'd geusse a charge by the knights would cause havoc on a Roman formation. The Romans never faced such armoured cavalry with stirrups and lances, as it didn't exist in the ancient world. The closest thing would probably be the Sassian cavalry the Romans faced (and lost against) in the late Empire.
As to the military capabalities, you'd have to narrow the medieval army to a specific time or place. For example, a first century Roman army would likely be more than a match for 9th century Vikings or Saxons..
Although against a 1350's English army, the Roman force would likely lose. The Romans would have better orginization, but the English would have armoured knights (with strirrups, lances and longswords), longbows, cannon, considerably more advanced armour, and superior technology in general.
The English army would likely consist of Archers, mounted knights, and dismounted knights and men-at-arms. (no unarmed peasants.)
A first century Roman army would have been primairly an infantry force, supported by light cavalary and perhaps auxullary archers and slingers.
I don't know how well a longbow arrow would penetrate a scutum, though I'd geusse a charge by the knights would cause havoc on a Roman formation. The Romans never faced such armoured cavalry with stirrups and lances, as it didn't exist in the ancient world. The closest thing would probably be the Sassian cavalry the Romans faced (and lost against) in the late Empire.
