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Arms and Society in Antiquity

In a limited sense, the industrializa­

tion of war is almost as old as civilization, for the introduction of bronze
metallurgy made specially skilled artisans indispensable for the manu­
facture of weapons and armor. Moreover, bronze was rare and ex­
pensive. Only a few privileged fighting men could possess a full
panoply. It followed that warrior specialists emerged alongside
metallurgical specialists, one class enjoying near monopoly of the
other’s product, at least to begin with.
But the phrase “industrialization of war” does not really fit the
ancient river valley civilizations, whether of Mesopotamia, Egypt,
India, or China. In the first place, priests and temples competed with
warriors and army commanders as consumers of bronze and other
artisan products; and the earliest rulers probably based their power
more on their religious than on their military roles. In the second
place, in society at large the great majority of the population remained
in the fields, toiling to produce food for their own support. Surpluses
were small; and the number of rulers—whether priestly or military or
both—and of artisans remained proportionately modest. Moreover,
within that small number, the industrial element was inconspicuous.
Arms and armor, once molded into shape, lasted indefinitely, and
even if blunted or dented in battle could be restored to usefulness
with a little sharpening or hammering. Armorers therefore remained
relatively few, even in proportion to warriors.
Since tin and copper ores did not usually occur in the same places,
and since tin was relatively scarce and often had to be sought at great
distances, the really critical limit upon ancient metallurgy and war-
making capacity was more often the availability of suitable metal in­
gots or ores than manufacturing skill. Traders and transport personnel,

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