Humans tend to be inherently violent in nature, competing for their needs in the society. Human history is filled with conflict. Some of that conflict takes place on a small level involving only a few people, sometimes the battle takes place within a single person’s mind. But other conflicts span regions and can stretch on for decades. Ancient battles were not advanced and only depended of home crafted weapons like the spear, bow and arrow, falx and javelin, swords, spears, clubs, maces, axes, and knives. Catapults, siege towers, and battering rams were used during sieges. As we moved into the Bronze Age body armour began to appear as the smiths began working with this new metal, bronze helmets also began to make an appearance. Armor was not just limited to human soldiers but extended to their horses and elephants as well. The horse armor was made up of mail and plates or lamellae which covered the neck, chest, and hindquarters underneath which was some form of padding to keep it in place while a face plate protected the animal’s face. The elephants, used as a battering ram or to break and trample enemy lines
, were also donned in armor for battle. The elephant’s head was covered by a steel mask and covered half of the trunk while the throat and sides were protected by lamellae armor while the tusks were tipped with sharp metal. The advent of gunpowder and the acceleration of technological advances led to modern warfare. The next important step for gunpowder came when it was inserted into the barrel of a handgun, which first appeared in the mid-15th century and was essentially a cannon shrunk down to portable size. Guns literally put weaponry into the hands of the individual, creating a new class of soldier; infantry and giving birth to the modern army. Gunpowder made warfare all over the world very different, affecting the way battles were fought and borders were drawn throughout the Middle Ages. This made states to have strong standing armies that were able to defend their territorial sovereignty against any external aggression. In order to be able to defend themselves, the armies had to be trained and equipped to be battle ready. By taking an example of the Roman army, it shows how well ready they were for battle.