Nikole Stewart
Even though these strategies date back thousands of years, they’re still highly relevant today. Some of the best plans are ancient military tactics that still prove themselves today. The ingenuity and creative level from back in the day still create a worthwhile strategy to help win wars. Let’s dive into ancient military tactics still used today.
5. Psychological Warfare
Psychological warfare, which can be considered destroying morale or instilling fear into your enemy, is still a common strategy today. One of the earliest documented cases of this is from the Assyrians, who used displays of brutality to deter resistance and prevent uprisings.
Another great example is the Trojan Horse, a famous example where the Greeks infiltrated Troy under the guise of offering a gift that led the Trojans to believe they had the victory.
4. Scorched Earth
Scorched earth is another famous tactic that is still used today, and was commonly used by ancient armies. The strategy involves starving or weakening the enemy by destroying their lands and resources, which eventually leads them to no choice but to retreat or surrender. This was commonly used by the Scythians during the battle with the Persians without ever engaging them.
This was used as well in 1812 when the Russians fought Napoleon by burning stores and wrecking infrastructure. By essentially burning Moscow, Napoleon’s army couldn’t survive the winter, causing many to die.
3. Naval Blockade
One of the best ancient military tactics that is still used today is the naval blockade. One of the most famous examples is by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE during the siege of Tyre. Alexander constructed a massive causeway from the mainland and deployed both land and naval forces to isolate the city. This caused Tyre to lose access to its supplies and reinforcements, forcing it to surrender.
This is still a popular strategy today, and is extremely deadly, similar to scorching the earth. Essentially, the naval blockade isolates the target and prevents resources and aid, causing the enemy to surrender.
2. Feigned Retreat
While it might sound like a simple strategy, it’s actually one of the best ancient military tactics that is still used today. Feigning retreat was first used with Mongol horsemen under Genghis Khan, who perfected the art of pretending to flee, only to turn and overwhelm the enemy who pursued them when they broke formation, believing they had the upper hand. This deception is a great way to overpower enemies.
Modern use for this strategy usually involves decoy operations, signaling retreats, and drawing enemy artillery and air strikes to an idealized location.
1. Ambush
This is a popular strategy that is used both in ancient times and modern times, and even depicted in movies and other forms of media. Ambushing the enemy might seem like a simple tactic, but it’s actually the result of many victories. The concept’s most famous recording is from Germanic tribes against Rome in the Teutoburg Forest. A Germanic leader lured three Roman legions into an ambush, and even though Rome had the superior weapons, they were no match for the strategy.
Ambushes are often used by, and against, the military as well. And interestingly enough, “surprise” is one of the nine Principles of War.