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In a way, the term technology is just a word for mechanical advantage. One of the principles neede to win a war is an advantage, wether that be numerical advantage, positioned on the high ground or having better training. When it comes to the weapons of war, there has always been technology. Imaging the first clashing of armies when the one armed with bronze weapons met the one with iron. (no that is not where the term irony came from) The Macedoneans fought with longer spears. Any improvement over the previous version is a technological advantage. Now if you push an advantage too far you can also create a disadvantage. The sarissa is nice but once the enemy gets within its length there is not much more you can do with it. As bomber development allowed them to fly higher, accuracy declined.Now regarding the Operations going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. We definately have the technological advantage, hence the highly skewed casualty ratio. But the one thing the US does not have is TIME. The insurgents can fight forever, we will eventually have to leave. Can we get to them all before we have to leave?
I'm going to have to throw Midway in there. The US got a bit of luck in that one. Had we lost Midway I'm not sure we could have recovered quickly enough to stop the Japanese from pushing all the way to Hawaii. While I don't know if they would have attempted an actual invasion of California (they could have Los Angeles now) but Alaska would have been extremely vulnerable and they would basically control all of the Pacific. He it gone to that point, I don't think we could have engaged the Japanese again until victory in Europe.
True, they weren't dark, but if you look at the technology that was available in Britain while the Romans were there, and then look at what happened after they left. Just a simple thing like morter for building with stone. The Britains had to regress to building with wood and mud stucco. Heck they didn't even have enough knowhow to maintain the building and structure that the Romans left behind. Writing was lost to 99%. Who know what the place would have looked like to Duke William in 1066 had the Norse and Danes not had their effect.
The problem comes when religion and government intermingle. Now the US government was formed on the foundation of Christian principles but allow for freedom of practice of ANY religion (as long as it doesn't infringe on me) That is the extent of tollerance IMO. Religion or faith is for the individual soul, government is for the masses. We (the US) allow the masses input to the government. Not much mass input on religion.
Wow, your last post was a year ago. So how has the schooling gone? I too am an AMU student, now working on my Master's in Military Studies in Air Warfare. I'm 4 classes into it and I should probably be writing one of my 4 5-7 page essays. Not to toot the school's horn but I challenge anyone to find a reason not to attend that school.http://www.apus.edu
I thought it was a great book. Its listed as fiction. Aside from that, look how much interest has been generated about art, archetecture, literature, religious history! How many people now want to go to the Louvre and count the panes of glass in the pyramid? Regardless if some want to think it could be true, I think the work has done a great deal of good by stirring the interest in the subject.
You know, I never got into the Civilization games. Although I have spend countless hours playing several of the Total War games. I still have to try Medieval Total War II. Also Age of Empires is great too. No go back to a classic, and I had to purchase Axis and Allies for PC for a class in Into to Wargaming. Great game!
Thanks Skiguy. I'm caught up in all the forums in the student lounge so now I'll turn my attention to adding a few cents in here.
I think the next generation of historians/teachers/professors may bring us back to what history is supposed to be about. Teaching history, all of it. Not just one side. And as far as religion goes. You can't teach history without it. But that doesn't mean that teachers will be converting anyone thats silly. It is not a history teachers job to say what if any religion is the true one. Just to tell them what happened.
My GGGGGreat Grandfather, George V Stettler, established the first Lutheran church in Ohio in 1803. A little town called Miami Township just outside of Dayton. The lutheran church is no longer there but a church stands today and his headstone is still in the cemetery.
Like Phid said, the earlier the greater the influence. Check out the book What If? it mentions if the Greeks would have lost to the Persians. If we realize what the Greeks gave us, including the foundation of Rome. What would have happend without a Roman Empire? Who would have crucified Jesus? Would Alexander have risen to power? Check out the book, it offers some ideas as to what effect we would have felt.http://www.amazon.com/What-If-Foremost-Military-Historians/dp/0425176428/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210885226&sr=8-1
The reason men lined up and fired at each other draws from the phalanx formation. Initially when firearms were first introduced, they were used in a single volley before closing to engage with hand-to-hand combat. Bayonettes were introduced so that firearms could also double as an edged weapons after firing. As the firearm became improved, techniques were developed to reload in an orderly fashion. Now volleys of fire could be used to whittle down the opponent. What ever side was able to reload quickest could get off more volley of fire before the charge.Now the reason for trench warfare in WWI was most likely due to the introduction of the machine gun.
I currently have a BA in World Military History and I'm working on a MA in History. As far as how do I use it? I'm an amature archeologist and writer (nothing published yet) I'm currently looking for any future dealing with history once I retire from the Air Force. If anyone is wondering, check out http://www.apus.edu great history program there and its all online.
Yes I've seen it. Great movie! Mind the underlying love story but its interesting to note the authenticity of the the aircraft. Though the Fokker DR1 was not available at this point in the war, the Laffette Escadrille was a true flying squadron before the US entered the war. I just wish I would have had surround sound for it.
