The Events That Changed Military Technology

Military technology and strategies have constantly evolved throughout history. However, within the last few centuries, the world has seen warfare evolve at such a rapid rate, that it seems no two wars are fought the same. With ever-changing technologies, soldiers’ duties and skills have had to adapt along with them. Yet, soldiers are not the only ones who have been affected by changes in warfare. With the emergence of the Napoleonic and World Wars, the people of a given country became involved in an effort known as a “total war.” As World War II came to an end though, the major powers in the world would never again get into a “total war.” All in all, many technological advances and tactics, in recent history, have dramatically changed the way wars are fought. The events that have seen a dramatic change in technology and/or warfare are as follows: the Industrial Revolution, the Napoleonic wars, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War (Buzard, 2006). One of the greatest advancements of warfare came during the age of Napoleon Bonoparte. Napoleon had imperialistic goals, and he believed that nothing would stop him from achieving those goals. He used every resource necessary to conquer the lands he desired. Napoleon did so by uniting France for his cause. He instilled tremendous nationalism throughout France, and before long, everyone was on board with his imperialistic plans. The French believed that they were the best of the best, and so when France would go to war, Napoleon had the full support of the people. This was an ingenious strategy, and it has become known as a “total war” effort. Some consider this a watershed in military history as the true beginning of modern warfare. One aspect of “total war” is that all able-bodied men are called to fight; the decision is not optional. This is known as “Levee en Masse.” Because Napoleon had the full support of his people this was never a major problem with enlisting soldiers. Another