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African military systems (1800–1900) refers to the evolution of military systems on the African continent after 1800, with emphasis on the role of indigenous states and peoples within the African continent. Only major military systems or innovations and their development after 1800 are covered here. For events prior to 1800, see African military systems to 1800. Coverage of the 20th century and beyond is provided in African military systems after 1900. For an overall view of the military history of Africa by region, see Military History of Africa. See individual battles, empires and leaders for details on activities after 1800. ==African military systems and the 19th century== Significant influences. The beginning of the 19th century saw several factors that had significant bearing on the evolution of military systems. Such factors are referenced in standard histories on Africa that identify the 19th century as a period of intense transformation on the continent.〔Robin Hallett, Africa to 1875, University of Michigan Press: 1975, pp. 40–52〕 Some of these are: * The rise of the Zulu kingdom under Shaka, which created significant change – from the southern part of the continent, up into East and Central Africa * The Fula jihads of West Africa, causing substantial transformation in that region on into the belt of Sudanic states * The increasing volume of guns delivered to the continent * The growth of trade between Africa and other parts of the world, including the suppression and replacement of the slave trade with other commerce * The explosion of European interest in Africa, culminating in invasions, settlement and acquisition of colonial empires in different parts of the continent All these factors in part continued earlier trends but the 19th century was to see an acceleration in the pace of military evolution on the continent. The environmental variables of past centuries also continued in many areas. Some of these include: * Relatively low population densities that reduced forces for combat * Poor soils (particularly in tropical forest areas) and low crop productivity * Disease-carrying vectors that hindered deployment of weapons systems like cavalry and weakened infantry forces in many regions * Lack of good coastal harbors and navigable rivers – hindering large scale logistics These variables impacted the development of military systems. Low population densities for example meant that large forces could not be raised and maintained in being for a long time. The Zulu as one instance, could field an estimated 50,000 warriors, impressive by regional standards. But this was the nation's entire armed strength, whereas more populous European nations during the Napoleonic Wars of the 19th century could routinely put this amount of men into a ''single'' battle.〔Archer Jones, The Art of War in the Western World, University of Illinois Press: 1987, pp. 54–92, 267–381〕 Political fragmentation also hindered the growth of large armies, and African tribes could be divided and defeated separately by foreign invaders, just as Rome did with numerous tribal opponents in antiquity. Nevertheless, despite such limits, the internal consolidation and growth of African states played an important part in military transformation. The Zulu system for example did not rely on foreign horses, guns or ships. The evolution of African military systems is thus not a simple tale of outside influences but a complex web of indigenous development that adapted, shaped and sometimes rejected outside technology. The influence of the gun and other technology. The introduction of firearms was important, but guns on African battlefields were often of indifferent quality, and traditional weapons and tactics sometimes compared favorably with them. Indeed Africans were well aware of the deficiencies of trade muskets and often demanded better quality than that offered. Most guns imported from Europe had not been test fired by the manufacturer to check for imperfections in bore and breach, although this was essential in the era of hand-forged barrels. Proven guns had proof-marks, and counterfeits flourished in the Africa trade. Firearms were thus a mixed bag on the ground, and the success of consolidating native powers like the Merina in Madagascar or the Zulu were due more to changes in indigenous organization, leadership and tactics, than to firearms. As the decades rolled on however, improvements to firearms, and other technology such as disease control (the cinchona bark to suppress malaria for example), and steamships were to give Europeans a decisive military edge on the continent. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「African military systems (1800–1900)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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