Rasta

What are the significant advances in technology or thought that shaped the way warfare was conducted in the ancient world?

My first example would be the invention of the helmet. Prior to the invention of the helmet, the club reigned on the battle field.

The club remained a symbol of domination as it bacame a symbol of power among ruling elites.

okamido

I have to go with the transition from bronze technology to iron as the most significant development, with the development of the professional soldier from wealthy farmers as the second.

Scarlet Knight

The upgrade of what weapons and armor were made of, stone to bronze to iron to steel.

Also, I'm not sure when it happened, but archers definitely changed things on the battlefield. Being able to pick off the clubwielders you mentioned from a distance must have had an enormous impact on the way battle strategy evolved.

Cicero

The invention of the stirrup changed warfare and arguably lead to widespread social changes such as contributing to the stratification of society important to the Fedual System. While invented earlier, perhaps in india, it was introduced into Europe in the 8th century. This simple invention made mounted men very difficult to unhorse and gave them power when charging with a lance as in the Frankish Charge.

Lucius

I remember reading that the ancient Assyrians had a tactical bridge-laying capability. They'd lay reed mats over reed pontoons tied together and cross a river somewhere else than a natural ford where the enemy would be waiting for them.

I don't know if such expedients would support the chariots. Perhaps they were disassembled and carried across while the horses swam over?

Rasta

Most of these occured in Mesopotamia, minus steel I think.

The phalanx, armor, sword, chariot, bow and arrow all appeared first in Mesopotamia I believe.

Sargon of Akkad is credited with the first known professional army.

Salah

This may not be *THE* most important military invention, but it defenitely helped the greatest pre-20th Century Empires rise to power...

The rise of drilled infantry. Almost invariably, ordered phalanxes of trained "soldiers", waiting for orders and helping each other in the crush of combat, could triumph over ill-disciplined mobs of individualistic "warriors". Take the Romans and Gauls, for example.

Cicero

I was just going to mention similar factors. Soldiers organized into units with similar training, weapons and centralized command such as the phalanax of Madedonia and the maniples of the later Roman Republic being good examples. The reforms of Marius contributed further with a professional army and organized and continuing units with standards and traditions that could be continued for generations. These traditions are still with us today while some of the other inovations mentioned in this thread are no longer relevant.

Belisarius

Invention of the spear, followed by the invention of the shield. Then the bow and sling.

Rasta

The spear is a good call. It's the only weapon to be used in every single major battle in history. (Assuming bayonets count as spears)