The Extent by Which Technology Changed Warfare Experience - Essay Example

Running Head: Technology and Warfare The Extent by which Technology Changed Warfare Experience [Client’s Name] [Affiliation] Whenever armed conflict is inevitable, warring parties go through the process with two focuses in mind – to win the war and to incur the least number of casualties or damage in the process. This has been the rule of thumb since the ancient times. In order to win the war and get the least number of casualties, parties either have to overwhelm their enemies with their number or to overwhelm their enemies with their armory (Cook, Fiely, & McGowan, 1995). Armed combats evolved from hand to hand battles to battles involving spears, arrows, and clubs to wars that were fought with gunpowder and cannonballs to nuclear warfare and terrorism. In other words, warfare has reached its sophistication through the aid of technology. The availability of technology and its application in military operations has changed warfare experience since science and technology became an accepted aspect of the human society (Ayson, 1997; 167). Creations of newer technologies for are always associated with military activities. Technologies that were never seen before were used and integrated in military tactics and were used on humans – bullets that penetrate layers of bricks, binoculars that are equipped with infrared capabilities that allows soldiers to detect the presence of enemy soldiers in total darkness, bombs that has the ability to bust bunkers buried under layers of bricks and sands, nuclear weapons that has the ability to wipe out an entire city, biological weapons that can kill millions of people in a matter of days. This paper will evaluate how technology has changed warfare over the years. Prehistoric Battles Prehistoric battles must have been sparked for simple reasons – food and survival (Moerbeek, 1997). It is highly possible that when groups of hunters are competing for small amount of resources, and when other options are unavailable, they go through the warring process for control of resources. It is also highly probable that early hunters associate with other hunters to increase not only their population but also their power to resist other hunters from invading their territories. As for the weapons they use, the tools that they own to process their meats and to tend their crops can be easily converted to weapons for killing. Basically, the winners of prehistoric battles are determined by the overwhelming strength of the warring parties. Those who outnumber the opponents have higher chances of winning. Hunting parties that are few in numbers but are resilient enough to resist losing has to devise some battle plans that would highlight their advantages and explore the weakness of the opponents’ forces. For some other hunters, the need to use more powerful tools than what their opponents are using means victory. Ancient Warfare There is no clear time frame to indicate where Prehistoric battles ended and ancient warfare began. However, it is good to assume that the transition of the stick and stone means of warfare to the use of sophisticated tools like spears and arrows started when fire and metals were discovered. With the introduction of bronze in the daily lives of the ancient people, warfare has changed. The reasons why ancient people engage in wars are basically to control and increase their resources and territories with slight variations depending on applicability. Genghis Khan wanted to increase the influence of his empire and so he fought with smaller tribes in Asia and expanded his reach as far as Africa. The Romans wanted to show the world how great an empire they are and so they expanded their empire through forceful means. Other ancient wars were fought to increase areas and resources for trading and commerce. Regardless of the outcome of the battle, the reason remains that war was fought because of the increase of economic rewards the winning party obtains after winning the war (Moerbeek, 1997). As technology has improved during this period, the demand to create more powerful machines has increased significantly. Battles that were typically fought on the same grounds were now being dominated by chariots and far reaching bows. Any military force that is able to make good use of these new types of technologies wins especially if these new technologies have the ability to increase the casualty of the enemy without exposing their own force to risk. However, this does not mean that technology of the Bronze Age is exclusively used for offense. Walls are fortified with stronger materials, horses were saddled using elaborate metals, and soldiers were equipped with metal helmets and mails that resist piercing. It was also during this period where catapults and bolts were invented and perfected for use in warfare. During this period, the development of equipments for warfare comes on two conditions: the equipments must be usable in battle which means that they are neither too heavy nor too light and that these equipments must allow the wearer or the bearer flexibility. The main goal in developing these weapons is to inflict damage without getting any, as opposed to hand to hand combat where damage could not be avoided. In the end when both forces acquire the same technology, warfare becomes a matter of overwhelming number of participants and on strategy. The Dawn of Gunpowder The invention of gunpowder and its introduction in warfare has changed the lives of soldiers and battles as well (Trenholm, 2006). Unlike the previous era where close quarter combat is still fought and bolts and arrows inflict more injury than actual death, the introduction of guns and rifles in the battlefield paved way to enormous capacity to damage enemy lines and kill enemies at one blow. Because of the efficiency of using gunpowder in rifles and guns in dealing damages to the enemy, various countries has made their own versions of the technology and aptly applied it in any armed conflict whenever they think the situation necessitates its application. More often than not, fighting battles with guns and rifles result in gory endings. Gunpowder was not actually intended to be a weapon used for killing when the Chinese invented it until the invention reached the Western world. Western soldiers then crafted the invention and created cannons and rifles in order to gain strength of force during battles. When the technology used in making gunpowder spread, the damage it brought during warfare has multiplied as well. Gunpowder could not be used as a weapon unless it has to be hurled towards the enemy and ignited at the same time. Hurling the gunpowder to the enemy is the easy part but the ignition requirement is trickier. Flintlocks were introduced to ignite the gunpowder in the barrel and hurl it towards the intended target with better accuracy and flexibility than catapults can. The flintlocks eventually became outdated as rifles and handheld guns were developed. During the first two World Wars, nations have to make good use of technology in warfare in order to keep the number of casualties at minimum. The technological development during this period did not end with the invention of guns and riffles. Tanks and armored vehicles were also introduced in the picture as well as mine bombs and rocket missiles that can be launched at longer distances. There are also new gadgets and weapons that are introduced in this era. Airplanes and boats were equipped with powerful guns that could bring down enemy planes, boats, and infantry. The success in battlefield is now gauged by the number of casualties that are made rather than on how peacefully matters are dealt with. Modern Warfare In a way, it can be said that modern warfare started when the use of gunpowder was introduced in the battlefield. Modern warfare is different from the warfare brought about by the invention of gunpowder in the sense that other technological inventions and innovations were also used in the battlefield (Connaughton, 2008). Axes and swords were replaced with pistols and handheld guns that can shot at short ranges; bows, arrows, and bolts are replaced with automatic rifles that can decimate numerous enemies with one sleight of the hand and sniper guns that can kill enemies without them knowing who shot them; elephants and chariots were replaced with powerful tanks, airplanes, and sea vessels that can deliver more damage than was imaginable; human soldiers are replaced with robots; and battle strategies are now being controlled by remote controls and buttons rather than on exhaustive battle plans. Most importantly, modern warfare paved way to new methods of decimating large number of soldiers and civilians using chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Technology, Warfare, and Modern Society Modern day societies have acknowledged the devastating effects that technology can bring in warfare (Kaszuba, 1997; Ayson, 1997; 169). This implies that any country that has the capability to produce the necessary technology for military purpose can wage war against any nation and can expect to dominate the world. Because of this, various countries sought to protect their interests from possible threats to their security either by increasing their military powers as well or by forming treatises with other countries to secure peace. In the case of Australia, the country has to depend on peaceful means to resolve conflicts and threats from other nations. Australia has always depended on the European balance of power for its economic stability and security (George, 1997; 18). This is because Australia has always been a major part of British colony and its identity as a nation was not strongly established until recently. For the most part of the colonization period, Australian security force remains subject to Britain. There are many occasions where Australian military forces are dispatched to protect the interest of Britain. There are also many occasions where Australia has to suffer the consequence of having inferior military capabilities and for being too-dependent on the British military in ensuring its sociopolitical interests (George, 1997; 19). In order to keep away from serious armed conflicts, Australia as well as the rest of the world enters peace treatises that aim to resolve international disputes even before they start. Conclusion There is no doubt how technology has increased the ability of the weapons to inflict damage in war and battles. As sticks and stones were replaced with more modern weaponry, the damage it does to mankind has increased as well. This increases the concern for the misuse of technology as a tool to promote war. Unregulated use of technology for modern warfare becomes a valid concern for modern policy makers and international organizations. Australia’s approach to conflict resolution which is through peaceful means remains the best way and the cheapest method of ending wars. References Ayson, R. The Changing Character of Warfare. Pp.167-179. Devetak, R (ed)., Burke, A (ed)., & George, J (ed). An Introduction to International Relations: Australia Perspective. Cambridge University Press. December 24, 2007 Connaughton, R. A Brief History of Modern Warfare. Robinson Publishing. 2008. Cook, J., Fiely, D.P. & McGowan, M. Nonlethal Weapons: Technologies, Legalities, and Potential Policies. Airpower Journal  9 Special Edition, 1995: 79 George, J. Theory and Practice in Australian International Relation: The Search for Security and Identity. Pp 19-41. Devetak, R (ed)., Burke, A (ed)., & George, J (ed). An Introduction to International Relations: Australia Perspective. Cambridge University Press. December 24, 2007. Kaszuba, K. Military War Technology: Has it Changed the Rules? Air War College. 1997. Accessed on May 7, 2009 from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/awc/97-103.pdf Moerbeek, Martijn. Warfare in Hellas. 1997. Accessed on May 7, 2009 from http://monolith.dnsalias.org/~marsares/warfare/history/prehist.html Mount, G. Nationalism and War. Pp. 133-143. Devetak, R (ed)., Burke, A (ed)., & George, J (ed). An Introduction to International Relations: Australia Perspective. Cambridge University Press. December 24, 2007 Trenholm, D. The Impact of Gunpowder in Medieval Warfare. December 2006. Accessed on May 7, 2009 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/13764820/The-Impact-of-Gunpowder-on-Medieval-Warfare Read More