The Evolution of Warfare

Warfare has been misconstrued in the current centuries, praising the individual that makes the ultimate sacrifice, the dedication of a man to give up his hopes and dreams to lay down his life for his cause. This concept, a modern romanticized ideal that has come with the ever-growing respect to human life is in fact opposite to what history shows. From the beginning of civilization, warfare had reflected highly on the heroes and not on the common foot soldier, the ones who live their lives in the trenches.  This can be seen as far back as the Iliad to the Revolutionary War. In history’s eyes, the only people that matter are the leaders, and as time passes, only select officers stand the test of time.  When the drums of battle echoed through the colonies in 1775, many men fought, but only a few are remembered. Of the countless individuals who fought for the birth of the American nation, only one stands out, General George Washington, the leader of the Continental Army, and the first President of the United States. The Revolutionary War, thought a battle for independence from a tyrannical rule, was fought in the same manner as the Imperial oligarchies of Europe at the time.

The stage at which warfare had evolved by the late 18th century had been marginal since the Middle Ages.  The advent of gunpowder and firearms in the late 14th century had made highly trained knights obsolete, due to the ease of which a man could be trained in close order drill, changing the face of Europe and then the world. By the Revolutionary war, the average soldier was still considered nothing more than a mere vessel to carry out the will of the generals who lead them. This is readily proven by the fact that the Washington memorial stands on the National Mall, and no dedication to the selfless citizens that fought for the birth of our nation can be found anywhere. History only remembers the generals, because they are responsible for all successes or failures, paving the way for the strategies of modern warfare.