03-16-2005, 10:11 PM
Quote:</em></strong><hr>You can't very well say "Awfully sorry, my spiky-haired friend, but I'm winded"<hr><br>
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There's an article by Phil Sabin in which he describes a theory of battle that factors in exhaustion. It consists of short engagements divided by pauses. It goes basically thus: the two armies face off, often at very close range, shouting insults and maybe trading missile fire. Fighting breaks out when "natural leaders" take the initiative toward the enemy (in which case the wedge as discussed on the other thread would be a natural maneuver as men followed in his wake, which could then be drilled and perfected) and a small area of combat takes place. Then exhaustion sets in and the lines seperate again. The same thing happens up and down the battle line. The pauses would offer the opportunity to exchange lines.<br>
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I believe the article is "The Face of Roman Battle" and it's in the Journal of Roman Studies from a few years back. <p></p><i></i>
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There's an article by Phil Sabin in which he describes a theory of battle that factors in exhaustion. It consists of short engagements divided by pauses. It goes basically thus: the two armies face off, often at very close range, shouting insults and maybe trading missile fire. Fighting breaks out when "natural leaders" take the initiative toward the enemy (in which case the wedge as discussed on the other thread would be a natural maneuver as men followed in his wake, which could then be drilled and perfected) and a small area of combat takes place. Then exhaustion sets in and the lines seperate again. The same thing happens up and down the battle line. The pauses would offer the opportunity to exchange lines.<br>
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I believe the article is "The Face of Roman Battle" and it's in the Journal of Roman Studies from a few years back. <p></p><i></i>
Dan Diffendale
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
