In ancient times, how did humans overcome their self-preservation instincts to engage in hand-to-hand combat during wars?
In: 43
For the most part they didn’t. Infantry charging headlong at other infantry is made up. It doesn’t *work,* because people get winded, it’s a great way to get your own side trampled, and they don’t have the mass of horses. And it’s also likely to get everyone on the front line killed. Getting wounded with no hospital is *bad.*
Also, almost no one fought with swords. They’re expensive and require specific training. Nobility or reputed warriors dueling during battle did happen. Average levy soldiers, no.
Most ancient and medieval battles likely resembled modern riots where people have shields and spend most of the time lobbing insults and projectiles at each other.
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