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The History Of The Army

An army is an organized, land-based military fighting unit. From the ancient world to modern times, the organization and composition of armies has varied considerably.
The earliest armies consisted of warriors in horse-drawn chariots; of infantry--armed foot soldiers; and of cavalry--armed soldiers on horseback. These units were sometimes accompanied by engineers who operated siege weapons and by supply trains to feed and outfit the fighters.
With the introduction of cannon in the 15th century, artillery units were added to the combat sections of armies. In the 19th and 20th centuries, as a result of great advances in technology, other units were added: signal troops, engineer corps for building bridges and entrenchments, medical units, administrative troops, mechanized units to replace cavalry, transportation and communication units, and explosives and munitions experts. The number of such backup or support units has tended to increase as warfare has become more sophisticated.
Recruitment for armies takes different forms. Soldiers may be volunteers, conscripts, or mercenaries. Volunteers fight willingly, usually for a cause or a country. Conscripts are drafted by their country to serve in its armed forces (see Conscription). Mercenaries serve for pay. They are not necessarily citizens of the country they fight for.
The command structure of armies has undergone considerable change in the course of centuries. The earliest armies followed a single leader, either a tribal chief or a king. As nations grew in size and armies became larger, it was necessary to divide command among officers, of whom generals were the highest rank. Officers, some of whom were professional soldiers, normally came from the wealthiest class in a society. They alone had the money to pay soldiers, buy weapons, and supply horses for war.
In the 20th century, with the spread of both democratic and socialist types of government, permanent officer classes based on...