Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

III.EARLY ORIENTAL ARMIES.Among tbe ancient Oriental nations, military service was generally confinedto a caste. Infantry was the bulk, cavalry the flower, of the Oriental armies.Light troops came from the poorer classes and were miserably clad, and armedwith bows and slings. The heavy foot, drawn from the richer classes, was, asa rule, splendidly armed and equipped. There was plenty of courage in theEastern armies, but small discipline and ensemble. There was no strategic manoeuvring; armies simply met and fought. Battle was opened by the lighttroops ; the chariots then charged, and were followed up by an advance of theheavy foot, whUe the cavalry sought to surround the flanks of the enemy. Theparallel order was universal, and open plains were chosen as battlefields.Jews had, even under Moses, a fine organization. There was a sort of landwehrof two hundred and eighty-eight thousand men, of which a twelfth was alwayson duty. While using other arms, the sling remained a favorite weapon. TheTheJews learned much of war from the Philistines.The Egyptians were excellentsoldiers in early times ; but their chariots and cavalry were gradually drivenout by the extension of the canal system, which prevented their mancBuvring ;and mercenaries crept into use to the detriment of the service.The Egyptianformation was generally in huge squares of one hundred files one hundred deep.The Persians had a hereditary warrior caste, and were in early history verywarlike. Cyriis began his wonderful career of conqiiest with but thirty thousandinfantry. Cavalry he acciimulated afterwards. The Persians learned muchfrom the conquered Medes in the way of technical skill.Their army containedmany fine bodies of troops.Assyrians, Babylonians and Medes. — The army organizationof the Assyrian.?, Babylonians and Medes had a similarorigin and much common likeness in form. Militaryservice was the sole right of a certain caste, and among theMedes was looked on as the highest of pursuits. The standingarmies consisted of the king's body-guard, often verylarge ;particular corps under command of nobles of high