CHAPTER ONE GAINING AN EDGE the Greek hoplite warriors stand ready to move into battle They overlap their bronze covered shields forming a wall Their armor is made of layered fabric thick enough to deflect enemy attacks Each hoplite grips a spear eight feet 2 4 m long The spear's central ridge makes the tip stronger At their sides each hoplite carries a double edged sword Its well balanced blade makes it easy to swing Greek hoplites used a tight formation called a phalanx to shield another one
Improvements in iron and steel helped change the way warriors battled Through the Ages From prehistoric fighters to modern-day soldiers science and technology have improved warriors chances on the battlefield With science behind them warriors have protected their homelands and conquered new territories The earliest conflicts involved hand-to-hand combat In time workers learned to mold metals People forged strong clubs and swords of bronze iron and steel With more powerful weapons came the need for better protection Metal armor was created and used along with leather and fabric armor 6
Harnessing the power of machines made weapons even more powerful Projectiles shot from machines were more effective than those thrown by hand The invention of gunpowder ushered in a new era of projectiles and warfare Cannons and guns were born Technology also revolutionized military transportation The chariot gave Egyptian soldiers an advantage on land Superior shipbuilding allowed Vikings to travel to and take faraway lands The invention of the combustion engine the steam engine and nuclear energy each changed how militaries moved 7 IN THE REAL WORLD The Cold War Nations sometimes compete with each other to develop the best weapons in what is called an arms race After World War II 1939 1945 the United States and the Soviet Union struggled with each other to become the top superpower This time of competition was called the Cold War 1947 1991 The war did not involve soldiers fighting Instead each country spent billions of dollars building its military to try to get ahead of the other
