Reading notes Unit 1

Thomas Hobbs

what are our natural states

1986 UNESCO

we are not naturally violent

chimpanzee study

was violence manufactured, organizes war, rise of indigenous states - war

neolithic conflict

agricultural and sedentary violence

Mesolithic

skeletal evidence of war, massacres over resources, butchered Neanderthals for food, family vs family action, evolution, competition, men - problem, war now means government

Intro of Chariot

Sumerian carts for military but very slow, began riding horses early on

3500-2500 BCE

new more efficient chariot in Sumitashte, generally had bows for weapons, trade began for metals

China

built defense walls, earthen mounds, metal swords

India

god of chariots

eurasia

key tech traveled to here, shifted in form though

Classical Period 500BCE - 323 BCE

hoplite: Greek infantryman, had weapons and armor, wore bronze helmet and other bodyguards, with shield of wood and bronze. Offensive - spear - iron tipped. Each side pushed

700-500 BCE

Greek formation system, Philip of Macedon in 338 BCE, inspire fear, different styles in helmets, increase in spear length

Chinese culture

hierarchy and discipline, obedience and uniformity

Qin Dynasty

Qin Shi Huangdi established first dynasty unifying China

Han Dynasty

rebellion led to formation of dynasty, led by Liu Bang from 202CE-221BCE, 2 halves in a civil war, focusing on quelling rebellion used conscription until 31CE, 54 million people at height, large conscription, really costly to feed - house-train, but fully bureaucratized, fought the Xiongnu and eventually retreated, didn’t survive internal weakness but bureaucracy lasted dynasties

Xiongnu

steppe threat to Chine, very powerful, led Chinese to develop their own system/cavalry and diplomacy

Archers

central part of infantry; crossbowmen are crucial

sinze

famous guy - advised generals

Bingfa

art of war - texts solidified during han dynasty

Han frontier

obscure, many fortifications and walls, restoring of Qin walls, under Emperor Wudi also served as trade routes, had towers with archers