05-24-2006, 05:40 PM
The writer of the paper seems to arrive at the conclusion that Han weapons were superior to Roman ones because the Chinese were free to slash away and the Romans had to rely on the inferior tactic of stabbing.
The Romans found the reverse to be true. Vegetius wrote:
"For those who strike with the edge have not only been beaten by the Romans quite easily, but they have even been laughed at."
Polybius wrote:
"Once the Gauls had rendered their swords useless by slashing at the spears, the Romans closed with them and rendered them helpless by denying them the room to slash with their swords; this stroke is unique to the Gauls, and their only one, because their swords have no points. The Romans, on the other hand, did not use slashing moves, but instead used their swords in a straight thrusting motion, using the sharp points which were very effective. Striking one blow after another at the chests and faces of the enemy, the Romans killed most of them."
The Romans found the reverse to be true. Vegetius wrote:
"For those who strike with the edge have not only been beaten by the Romans quite easily, but they have even been laughed at."
Polybius wrote:
"Once the Gauls had rendered their swords useless by slashing at the spears, the Romans closed with them and rendered them helpless by denying them the room to slash with their swords; this stroke is unique to the Gauls, and their only one, because their swords have no points. The Romans, on the other hand, did not use slashing moves, but instead used their swords in a straight thrusting motion, using the sharp points which were very effective. Striking one blow after another at the chests and faces of the enemy, the Romans killed most of them."
"In war as in loving, you must always keep shoving." George S. Patton, Jr.
