I saw a thread on [spoilers]the Song of Ice and Fire subreddit, I don't really know where else to get news about the books[/spoiler] and someone asked a few questions about real medieval warfare. These are a few snippets of the responses.
>"peasants were forced into combat wielding nothing but farming tools"
>"knights had no formal combat training or concept of martial arts, they were well-equipped brawlers"
>"medieval battles were usually just two huge masses rushing at each other, after the fall of the Roman Empire strategy and tactics were completely forgotten about until the Renaissance"
>"armor was basically useless and was worn only for decorative purposes, a sword would go right through it"
Where do people get these ideas from
Fantasy books like The Song of Ice and Fire.
1 is longstanding meme in popular culture before ice and fire
2 is reactionary counterswing to the romanticized ideal of chivalry
3rd is same as the first, victorian or renaissance borne snobbery
4th is whatever. I remember an otherwise well written and archaeologically minded book suggesting that any armor that wasn't soft or organic material was ceremonial. So bronze plate found during the Mycenaean period would be ceremonial to them.
>>2903066
>"armor was basically useless and was worn only for decorative purposes, a sword would go right through it"
what the hell! Do people actually believe this?
>>2903175
>>2903175
Look at how thin that is. It would be as easy as driving a kitchen knife through a soda can
>>2903091
>So bronze plate found during the Mycenaean period would be ceremonial to them.
Well in most uses it probably was, it's not like ancient society had a war every week, I don't know why they couldn't be both ceremonial and practical though
>>2903091
>bronze plate found during the Mycenaean period would be ceremonial to them.
Well I can buy that the Dendra panoply only saw ceremonial use, it always looked fucking stupid to me.
>>2903329
You realize that's top of the line professionally made armour, right? You'd need a mace or a cavalry charge to make a dent in that.
>>2903066
like me to it I want to see this for myself
>>2903329