Cassell's History of Warfare
1 total work
At the same time as civilizations in Greece and Mesopotamia developed the first professional armies, Chinese military technology was the equal of anything to be found in the Middle East or Europe. From fortress cities to chariots, cavalry to military engineering, China developed along very similar lines. Faced with the constant menace of nomadic tribes to the north - ancestors of the Huns - China built the most famous fortification in the world: the Great Wall of China. By the end of the first century AD Chinese outposts were established within a few days march of the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. Barriers of culture and language have prevented western historians from appreciating the importance of the Chinese Empire and warfare. This is a detailed account of Chinese military history.