General History Thread - India : News , Updates & Discussions .

ezsasa said:
lately i am using grok to summarise history content from old books.
idea is that most history books are written in large paragraphs, trying to find a better presentation methods of same info in contemporary writing styles which corporate/techie wallahs can understand.

the one below is on a chapter of bows and arrows from a book ancient Indian warfare. @Azaad had shared the book with me a some time ago.
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The text provides a detailed examination of archery in ancient India, particularly focusing on the bow (dhanus) and arrow (isu) as described in early Hindu texts like the Dhanur Veda, Nitiprakasika, Agni Purana, and various Brahmanas. Below is a concise summary and analysis of the key points regarding the classification, characteristics, and use of bows and arrows in ancient Indian warfare:

Classification of Weapons​

  1. Dhanur Veda: Classifies weapons into four categories:
    • Mukta: Weapons that are thrown (e.g., arrows).
    • Amukta: Weapons not thrown (e.g., swords).
    • Mukta-mukta: Weapons that can be thrown or not (e.g., spears).
    • Yantramukta: Weapons discharged by mechanisms (e.g., catapults).
    • Bows and arrows are primary weapons in the mukta category.
  2. Nitiprakasika: Divides weapons into three classes:
    • Mukta: Thrown weapons (e.g., arrows).
    • Amukta: Non-thrown weapons.
    • Mantramukta: Weapons discharged by mantras (likely symbolic or ritualistic).
    • Lists twelve types of mukta weapons, with the bow being prominent.

Characteristics of Bows​

  • Terminology: Bows were known as sanga, kodanda, karmuka, or dhanus. It’s unclear if these were synonyms or distinct types.
  • Materials:
    • Rod: Made of steel, horn (buffalo, rhinoceros, or mythical sarabha), or wood (sandal, sala, cane, bamboo). Bamboo bows, like Arjuna’s Gandiva, were considered the best.
    • Strings: Made from munja grass, arka plant, hemp, bamboo fiber, or sinew.
    • Grip: Wrapped with thick material for stability and ease of use.
  • Dimensions:
    • Wooden bows: ~6 feet (4 cubits); middling/inferior bows: ~5 feet.
    • Steel bows: Smaller grip, often inlaid with gold, resembling a "lady’s eyebrow."
    • Sivavyasa Dhanur Veda: Bow length as 4 x 24 inches.
  • Types (Kautalya’s classification):
    • Karmuka: Palmyra.
    • Kodanda: Bamboo.
    • Druna: Damwood.
    • Dhanus: Bone or horn.
  • Weight (Kodanda Mandana):
    • Yogin’s bow: 2 palas.
    • Practice bow: 300 palas.
    • Reed bow: 400 palas.
    • Battle bow: 700 palas.
    • Long-distance bow: 950–1,000 palas.
  • Design: Bent at three places, with a tusk-like opening; two strings used for redundancy.

Characteristics of Arrows​

  • Materials:
    • Shaft: Iron or bamboo (well-grained, golden-colored).
    • Head: Iron (cutting), bone (rending), or wood (piercing).
    • Feathers: At the tail for stability.
    • Gold-tipped points for some arrows.
  • Dimensions (Agni Purana):
    • Superior: 12 mustis (~1 musti = 1 pala).
    • Middling: 11 mustis.
    • Inferior: 10 mustis.
  • Types (Kautalya):
    • Venu, sara, salaka, dandasara, naraca (metal arrow, five-sided, five-feathered).
  • Proficiency: An archer was proficient if they could pierce metal plates (half-finger thick) or 24 layers of leather.

Use of Bows and Arrows​

  • Technique (Agni Purana):
    • Bow held with the left hand, arrow with the right.
    • Arrow’s feathered end rests on the string, drawn to the ear in a straight line.
    • Archer’s stance: Triangular or specific positions like Samapada (standing), Vaisakha (tiptoe), Mandala (circular), Alidha (right thigh steady), Pratyalidha (reverse), and others.
  • Equipment:
    • Defensive leather armor on the left hand.
    • Quiver hung from the neck.
  • Movements: Nitiprakasika lists 14 distinct movements for archery practice.
  • Cultural Significance:
    • Named Dhanur Veda, emphasizing the centrality of archery in warfare.
    • Used by all four warrior classes, unlike some weapons restricted by caste.
    • Literary references (e.g., Raghuvamsa, Sakuntalam) highlight archery skills of figures like Rama and Dusyanta.

Historical Context​

  • Early Texts:
    • Rig Veda: Mentions isukrt and isukara (arrow-makers), indicating a specialized profession.
    • Aitareya Brahmana (~600 BCE): Describes gods crafting an arrow with symbolic components (Agni as point, Soma as socket, Vishnu as shaft, Varuna as feathers).
    • Kausitaki Brahmana: Lists a bow with three arrows as a sacrificial fee, symbolizing safe journeys.
  • Mythological References:
    • Indra’s thunderbolt (vajra) splitting into parts, including the sara (arrow), as per Satapatha Brahmana.
    • Arjuna’s Gandiva and Krishna’s horn bow as iconic weapons.
  • Comparative Perspective:
    • Indian bows were drawn to the ear, unlike Greek bows (drawn to the chest).
    • Indian arrows (~3 cubits) were longer than Greek javelins, with superior penetration (per Arrian).
    • Greek bows (made of wool, horn, horse-hair) were less effective in winter, unlike Indian bamboo/steel bows.
  • Archaeological Note:
    • Mohenjodaro and Harappa finds (Chalcolithic period) show copper arrowheads but no stone ones, suggesting limited use of archery compared to other weapons.

Types of Archer Stances in Ancient Indian Archery​

The Agni Purana and related texts describe several stances (sthana) used by archers to ensure accuracy, stability, and effectiveness when shooting a bow and arrow. These stances were part of the Dhanur Veda, the ancient Indian science of archery, and were tailored to different combat scenarios and physical demands. Below is a detailed list of the stances, their characteristics, and their applications.

1. Samapada (Standing Position)​

  • Description: The archer stands with legs, calves, palms, and thumbs closely aligned, forming a compact and stable posture.
  • Characteristics:
    • Feet are close together, minimizing the base for maximum balance.
    • Body is upright, with hands and thumbs positioned to draw the bowstring steadily.
  • Use:
    • Ideal for stationary shooting, where precision is prioritized over mobility.
    • Suitable for calm, controlled environments, such as target practice or ritualistic archery.
  • Significance: Provides a firm foundation, reducing body sway and enhancing focus on aiming.

2. Vaisakha (Tiptoe Position)​

  • Description: The archer stands on tiptoe, with thighs fixed and a small space between the feet on the ground.
  • Characteristics:
    • Elevated stance on toes increases alertness and readiness.
    • Thighs are tensed to maintain stability, with feet slightly apart for balance.
  • Use:
    • Used in dynamic situations requiring quick movement or adjustment, such as battlefield scenarios.
    • Allows for rapid pivoting or stepping while maintaining an elevated line of sight.
  • Significance: Enhances agility, making it suitable for archers needing to respond to moving targets or threats.

3. Mandala (Circular or Semi-Circular Position)​

  • Description: The archer adopts a circular or semi-circular posture, with more space between the feet than in Samapada.
  • Characteristics:
    • Feet are spread wider, forming a broader base, often in a curved or rounded stance.
    • Body may be slightly rotated to align with the target.
  • Use:
    • Effective for shooting in multiple directions without repositioning, such as in defensive formations.
    • Useful in uneven terrain or when surrounded by potential targets.
  • Significance: Offers versatility and a wider range of motion, ideal for complex combat scenarios.

4. Alidha (Right Thigh Steady)​

  • Description: The right thigh and knee are kept steady, while the left leg is drawn back.
  • Characteristics:
    • Weight is primarily on the right leg, which is firmly planted.
    • Left leg is retracted, creating a forward-leaning posture that aligns the body toward the target.
  • Use:
    • Preferred for shooting at forward targets, especially in offensive maneuvers.
    • Allows the archer to lean into the shot, increasing draw strength and arrow velocity.
  • Significance: Emphasizes power and forward momentum, suitable for long-range or high-impact shots.

5. Pratyalidha (Reverse of Alidha)​

  • Description: The reverse of Alidha, where the left thigh and knee are steady, and the right leg is drawn back.
  • Characteristics:
    • Weight shifts to the left leg, with the right leg pulled back.
    • Body leans slightly to the left, aligning with targets to the right or at an angle.
  • Use:
    • Used when targeting objects to the right or in situations requiring a mirrored stance.
    • Facilitates shooting while retreating or adjusting to lateral threats.
  • Significance: Provides flexibility for archers in defensive or multi-directional combat.

6. Sthanam (Balanced Position)​

  • Description: The left knee is held straight, while the right knee is bent, creating a balanced yet flexible posture.
  • Characteristics:
    • Left leg is extended for stability, while the right leg’s bend allows for quick movement.
    • Body remains upright, with weight distributed to adapt to sudden changes.
  • Use:
    • Suitable for prolonged shooting sessions, as it reduces fatigue.
    • Allows for quick transitions between aiming and moving.
  • Significance: Combines stability and mobility, making it versatile for both static and dynamic contexts.

7. Niscala (Fixed Knee Position)​

  • Description: The left knee is held straight and rigid, with the right knee bent, focusing on a fixed lower body.
  • Characteristics:
    • Left leg is locked for maximum stability, anchoring the archer.
    • Right knee’s bend allows slight adjustments in upper body alignment.
  • Use:
    • Ideal for precision shooting, especially at distant or small targets.
    • Used in situations requiring minimal movement, such as ambushes or sieges.
  • Significance: Prioritizes accuracy over mobility, ensuring a steady platform for the bow.

8. Vikata (Straight Right Leg)​

  • Description: The right leg is placed straight, with the left leg possibly bent or adjusted for balance.
  • Characteristics:
    • Right leg is extended fully, creating a strong, linear base.
    • Left leg’s position varies, allowing adaptability in posture.
  • Use:
    • Used for powerful shots requiring a firm lower body.
    • Suitable for archers facing a single, forward-facing target.
  • Significance: Emphasizes strength and directness, aligning the body for maximum force.

9. Samputa (Raised and Bent Knees)​

  • Description: Both legs are raised, with knees bent, creating a crouched or semi-squatting posture.
  • Characteristics:
    • Both knees are flexed, lowering the archer’s center of gravity.
    • Feet remain close, with weight distributed evenly.
  • Use:
    • Used in defensive scenarios, such as shooting from cover or low positions.
    • Allows for quick drops or rises, evading enemy projectiles.
  • Significance: Enhances stealth and protection, ideal for guerrilla-style tactics.

10. Svastika (Stretched Legs with Protruding Feet)​

  • Description: Both legs are stretched straight, with feet protruding outward, resembling a swastika shape.
  • Characteristics:
    • Legs are fully extended, with feet angled outward for a wide base.
    • Body remains balanced, with arms free to draw the bow.
  • Use:
    • Used in open terrain for stability against wind or uneven ground.
    • Allows for broad, sweeping shots across a wide arc.
  • Significance: Provides a unique, stable base for shooting in challenging environments.

Additional Notes​

  • Triangular Position: The text mentions a "triangular" stance as the primary aiming position, likely referring to the body’s alignment (feet forming a triangle with the target). This could be a variation of Alidha or Pratyalidha, emphasizing a forward-leaning, focused posture.
  • Technique Integration:
    • The archer holds the bow with the left hand and the arrow with the right, drawing the string to the ear.
    • Defensive leather armor on the left hand and a neck-hung quiver complement these stances.
    • The Nitiprakasika lists 14 movements associated with archery, likely including transitions between these stances.
  • Cultural Context: These stances reflect the Dhanur Veda’s emphasis on precision, adaptability, and discipline, tailored to both ritualistic and battlefield archery.

Significance in Warfare​

  • Versatility: The variety of stances allowed archers to adapt to different terrains, combat scenarios, and target distances.
  • Training: Mastery of these stances required extensive practice, indicating a professional or warrior class skilled in archery.
  • Cultural Reverence: The detailed codification in texts like the Agni Purana underscores archery’s centrality in ancient Indian military and cultural life.

Cultural and Military Significance​

  • Archery was a highly developed science, supported by the state (e.g., Jataka story of Prince Peerless).
  • Bows were versatile, used by foot soldiers, cavalry, and even hill tribes (e.g., Khasias, Nagas).
  • Hindu archery was renowned for precision and power, with Wilson noting their skill on horseback, akin to Parthian archers.

Conclusion​

The bow and arrow were the cornerstone of ancient Indian warfare, as evidenced by their prominence in Dhanur Veda and other texts. Their sophisticated design, varied materials, and detailed techniques reflect a mature military tradition. Unlike in Greece, where archery waned due to range limitations, Indian archery remained central, supported by cultural reverence and technical innovation.
Click to expand...

took this up today because of this video popped up in YT recommendations a few days ago. length of the arrow caught my attention.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HM1md0faehQ
 
The irony is of course nomadic central asian archers on horses started dominating us from the time of the Sakas onwards also featuring among others the Indo Parthians , the Kushans , the Huns & later the Islamo Turkic warlords from Mahmud Ghaznavi onwards .

Also ironically one of the reasons cited for the defeat in the Battle of Talikota was the induction of a contingent of these same Turkic horse archers who previously served the Bahmanis headed by a duo known as the Gilani brothers who at the appropriate time switched sides & beheaded Aliya Rama Raya turning on the Vijayanagar Army which until that point was easily winning the war.

Apparently the Vijayanagar Empire came to the conclusion pretty early on in its formation , that they couldn't take on these horse mounted archers as they couldn't develop effective counters to them nor could they train as well as them .

Hence they used to co opt them as mercenaries into their armies also with the aim of training their own forces under them which didn't seem to get very far for obvious reasons.

It's from here we get notions of the Vijayanagar Empire being syncretic & all that nonsense coz in order to make these Turkic troops feel at home & welcome they used to honour the Koran , inaugurated mosques , paid up for Dargahs etc going so far as to install the Koran on the throne alongside our scriptures to show how deeply they honoured Islam encouraging these Turkic troops to take local women etc which squint eyed historians like Kani of The misPrint infamy now distort to prosecute their own agenda.

But it also goes to show that from a civilization which valorized war & it's various aspects including conducting deep studies on it like cataloguing weapons , writing manuals like the above-mentioned one or the horse training manuals of the Mitanni , analysing warfare of which you've plenty of references in the MB like war formations & how to counter it , etc , to what I've described above shows how steep our fall has been indeed .
 

View: https://twitter.com/ASIGoI/status/1915383603976110118?s=19

A stunning, intricately carved sculpture of Sheshashayi Vishnu has been unearthed during scientific clearance at Lakhuji Jadhavrao’s Chhatri, Sindkhed Raja (Buldhana), Maharashtra.
The sculpture shows Lord Vishnu reclining on nine-headed Sheshnaga holding Chakra in upper left hand, Gada in lower left hand, Padma in lower right hand and the upper right hand is placed below the head while the decorated conch is placed on very ornate and elegant pedestal. Goddess Lakshmi is also seen seated on the elegantly designed stool, adorning jewelleries like armlets, earrings, pendant etc. The sculpture also depict a scene from Samudramanthana, where mandara parvat is surmounted by Vasuki serpent. On one side King Bali is shown and on the other side the devagana lead by Lord Vishnu is depicted. A prominent male figure worshipping lord Vishnu along with two chauri bearers can also be seen. There is also depiction of dasavatara of Lord Vishnu behind the hoods of Sheshnaga.

This sculpture will soon be put up for public display.

#asi #archaeology #maharashtra
Click to expand...

Incidentally Lakhuji Jadhav was the maternal grand father of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj
 
Azaad said:
The irony is of course nomadic central asian archers on horses started dominating us from the time of the Sakas onwards also featuring among others the Indo Parthians , the Kushans , the Huns & later the Islamo Turkic warlords from Mahmud Ghaznavi onwards .

Also ironically one of the reasons cited for the defeat in the Battle of Talikota was the induction of a contingent of these same Turkic horse archers who previously served the Bahmanis headed by a duo known as the Gilani brothers who at the appropriate time switched sides & beheaded Aliya Rama Raya turning on the Vijayanagar Army which until that point was easily winning the war.

Apparently the Vijayanagar Empire came to the conclusion pretty early on in its formation , that they couldn't take on these horse mounted archers as they couldn't develop effective counters to them nor could they train as well as them .

Hence they used to co opt them as mercenaries into their armies also with the aim of training their own forces under them which didn't seem to get very far for obvious reasons.

It's from here we get notions of the Vijayanagar Empire being syncretic & all that nonsense coz in order to make these Turkic troops feel at home & welcome they used to honour the Koran , inaugurated mosques , paid up for Dargahs etc going so far as to install the Koran on the throne alongside our scriptures to show how deeply they honoured Islam encouraging these Turkic troops to take local women etc which squint eyed historians like Kani of The misPrint infamy now distort to prosecute their own agenda.

But it also goes to show that from a civilization which valorized war & it's various aspects including conducting deep studies on it like cataloguing weapons , writing manuals like the above-mentioned one or the horse training manuals of the Mitanni , analysing warfare of which you've plenty of references in the MB like war formations & how to counter it , etc , to what I've described above shows how steep our fall has been indeed .
Click to expand...

While it IS true that you cannot beat horse-archers at horse-archery without having equal supply of horses and dedication, horse archers are not some magic unit of ancient war and there are many ways to counter them.
But none of those ways were applied to India for who knows what reason.

For eg:

1. You deal with them, like Romans dealt with the subsequent parthian horse archers after learning from Carrhae disaster : you keep enough cavalry around so they can bypass horse-archers and target their supply horses (if any) - like Surena had, where he brought 100s of horses laden down with just arrows to make basically unlimited ammo hack of computer games.
You make your infantry into heavy infantry, meaning big inter-locking shields or spear formations and weather the barrage.
Horse archers if they fire full speed WILL exhaust all the damn arrows in their arsenal within 10 min max : an aerage horse archer could easily shoot once ever 3 seconds, so thats 20 shots a min and you cant carry more than 200 arrows with you on your horse, period.
Even if the horse archers were judicious, you STILL win by nullifying them with 'weather the storm; formations.
But this is only possible if you have heavy infantry.

2. Crossbows. The horse-killer. This is how the zero to hero Han Empire saved Chinese civilization from the barbarians that ours couldnt - han went through great trouble to go from zero horses to being respectable in horses - they sent bloody military escorted trade mission to Greco-Bactrians to buy Bactrian war horses who were at that time second ONLY to Iranian Nicean horse in quality.
They took 100s of breeding pairs back and made thousands strong cavalry but still quickly realized, they aint gonna match the OG Gods of steppe nomad savage horse cavalry - the Xiongnu.

So they came up with crossbows. The biggest misconception is that crossbows went up against horse archers and in that people start to compare load speed, fire rate etc and pooh pooh crossbows.
But crossbows are NOT to kill the dude on the horse. Its to kill his horse. Because yes, Han heavy crossbows packed sufficient power that a head-shot is instant kill shot and a good aimed shot is still vital organ kill shot in minutes.

3. Spanish Garrochistas -heavy lancers on light armored horse that will chase the heck down of horse archers and their arrows just bounce off like toothpicks coz you dont get more physically armored than Spanish Garrochistas.
Ie, chase away/kill horse archers in the field itself.


Vijayanagar again, adopted none of these solutions.
My main criticism of Indian warfare of medival era, is that it is victim of its own success. That which made Alexander run away from India in fear almost worked 2000 years later in Talikota and worked decently up to that point : haathi based light infantry light cavalry , where infantry is all light swordsmen/light spearmen or longbowmen archers.
 
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So my conclusions re: Indian malady at war is this :
Fighting us was utterly predictable for our enemies, fighting them was not because they kept innovating in terms of armor, cavalry and then gunpowder while we stuck to the A+ method of bronze age.
Kind of what the Romans did with their legionary system - kept it going till the 400s when it catastrophically failed.

A lot of people dont know that Byzantine empire ONLY survived because of Justinian the great and he ALMOST re-unified the entire Roman empire ( he controlled all roman mediterrnean except most of spain and none of france or england that lay beyond) and he did it EXCLUSIVELY by moderninsing the Roman empire - or at least getting on with the heavy cavalry times : he made his army composition more spearmen based, the swordsmen were more mobile and less armored, etc and directly cut+paste the Persian savaran cavalry into Kataphractoi heavy cavalry.

But the OG Romans - they too like us, were victim of their own A+ god of war success story.
Once the Romans perfected the manipular system in samnite wars, it was GG to any infantry to ever faced them. And cavalries stood no chance except the one and only Savaran cavalry, because at this time stirrups hadn't been invented yet and Romans fought pretty much EXACT same tactics and army composition from around 150 BC to 450s AD so a 600 year period. Plus if you want to just not be too particular about exact army rotations of manipular-legionaries and go back to general heavy infantry formation warfare culture of the romans that goes back to 800s BCE. So they too are perfect example of
'cut paste rote memory vs barbarians for 1000s of years' and one day it doesnt work and no one knows what to do next.

So my conclusions are:

1. Those who keep innovating in ways of war -keep winning.
2. Sometimes its a long term curse to suddenly become the God of war in your era of the world, because then it becomes such gospel that innovation stops and no one cares, for 100s of years coz it just works so beautifully and blind monkeys can run it against towering foreigners and win, until, the group #1 has finally made something that causes catastrophic fail on battlefield
And at that point, there is nothing to stop total fail of military performance/capabilities because you dont have innovation of war culture, you have cut-past the god of war theory of legionaries or haathis you have been cut-pasting for 1000 years.

We were one such power or perhaps the world's most shining example of that : Looking at Vijayanagar army, i am both filled with pride and shame: If you went back in time and brought back Samudragupta from 1000 years ago or even Mahapadma Nanda from 2000 years before this man and dropped him on the field of Talikota and said 'save us' - he'd know what to do and maybe wouldn't have won, but wouldn't be out of place with his task as an army composition and technique.

So its both a matter of pride and laughter, that our literal post-mahabharata period BUddha times army was going around being battlefield effective to moderate degree facking 2000+ years later.

And we act so butthurt and shocked that suddenly the world decieded 'enough with bronze age-giri. fight like moderners' and zapped us.


I dont want Indians to let this Indo-phobic notion that we suck at war in most of our history. we most definitely do not. Chota phuchke-phachka raaja Puru- who doesnt even get directly mentioned in our own history - became galey-me-haddi to Alex-babu, who this greek god of war couldnt kill on battlefield and somehow managed to fight to standstill and climb off of his elephant, even according to them.
Okay.
This is why Acheaemenid Persian empire didnt extend into the Indus. This is why Sassanids didnt scroo around with Guptas. Or Abbasids with Gurjaras and so on and so forth - coz if thre is a big empire of maha-haathi force, you are gonna get squished by even a pussy Lord Arryn's son on the battlefield even if you are Ares himself coz haathi- bitch.
Thats the answer and thats the answer that keeps working for a long time even when its no longer god of war ( IMO from around 900s AD onwards, with more stronger horse breeds and armoring showing up) till it doesnt- at Talikota.
That is the true end of Indian god of war on the battlefield, because that is the true crushing of a towering Indian imperial power that stood at the time in top 5 of the world (bahamanis were not even in top 20) for direct material wealth + industrial power and there are no excuses to give this time of 'chotto chotto rajput kingdoms so how many haathis can they really have..waa' excuses.
and this is the last time the bronze age buddha period army ever fought a real major battle again.
 
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A note on cavalry of the ancient world and some interesting details:

stirrups are ironically an indian invention of baniyas - they used to ride arond horses for short trips and got tired of their legs flapping arond so they made a weird toe-loop thingly to keep their legs steady as they rode but it wasnt a true stirrup coz it wasnt balanced and therefore it hurt the horses, so it was never adopted in warfare mode for 100s ofyears till approx around 100 AD : A kushan era seal is the first EVER epigraphical evidence of a stirrup and its a platform stirrup.)

Without stirrups you dont have heavy cavalary- which is defined as lancers : because to lance your target, you need to be able to weight transfer and lean in at point of contact and for this you NEED stirrups. Alexander the great's cavalry, julius caeser, etc were NOT heavy cavalry. They were basically utlra-mobile spearmen or swordsmen on a horse with legs flapping arond slashing and thrusting at people with their own force, but Alex could NEVER charge full tilt at another guy and poke him with his spear with horse momentum coz Alex had no stirrup !!! he'd straight up fly outta his saddle !!

The Sassanids Savaran cavalry was the first i believe to make heavy cavalary and they are the main source of why 'ghursawar' were seen as so prestigeous a title and elite of the elites : they were heavy lancers.
How did Persia solve this no stirrup problem ?
Easy : the Persian saddle - its a special saddle with wooden clamps curving inwards that clamp your legs in with the horse. So yes. you are glued to your saddle. Now you can go full tilt smash trough roman legionary column and send them flying with your long pointy stick and horse momentum.
But at the same time, Savaran cavalry was also very judicious in its use because you had one HUGE problem : you went down with your horse. You cant kick out- you are clamped in.
So your horse loses momentum and starts getting slashed or gets dead-stopped and killed, it means you also die.

Around 100s AD we start seeing coin/sculpture evidnce of kushan platform stirrups- follwing which around late 200s-early 300s AD we start seeing regular stirrups where you put your shoe inside a hole like shape, 'weaponizing' the baniya toe-loop finally after at least 500 years existence in India.

The transition to full scale lancer cavalary in west/cenrtral asia starts around 400s AD with the Yeopthal-nezak-xyon huns that killed the Gupta empire.

But one of the funniest things of history i find, is the Mr total zero of ghora-warfare - India - where we have never been a ghora-equal to any fucker who's ever shown up through the khyber pass - is the inventor of stirrups. True, not militarized, but so what, a stirrup is the concept that is revolutionary- design of civilian tech vs military tech is not too relevant.
And that too, this genius was that of our baniyas. Because riding around with toe-loop horses was just a merchant class/rich person riding his horse in peace and if horse gets sores, he just sells and gets another horse and mistreats him coz toe-loop is not true stirrup and dhandomaxx+ comfortmaxx+ rolls on.

But we were so cut-paste rote memory of our God of war capabilities, we never made a single facking military innovation for like...2000 years.
 
Azaad said:

View: https://twitter.com/AEuropeani46698/status/1915030196094210184?s=19


View: https://twitter.com/yajnadevam/status/1915497318054326783?s=19

If yajnadevam's interpretation of the SVC script is confirmed it has the potential to rewrite history in pre historic Middle East.
@ezsasa ; @Anonymous Bharata
Click to expand...

His interpretations are correct.....long ago I read a post on twitter about inscription from mesopotamia which says "sindhu"....I am searching for that again since long time
 
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