Infantry

The Infantry is the oldest of the combat arms. From the dawn of time, wars have been predominantly fought by men on foot. Long before men domesticated the horse, or invented and kind of boat, the Infantry was represented in the intertribal wars of prehistory.

At first, infantry battles were really hand-to-hand encounters of pairs of warriors, or simple mob actions. Rude tactical plans were sometimes carried out, but more often than not, tactical plans miscarried due to the lack of discipline and cohesiveness of the Armies of prehistory.

The Greeks overcame this problem with one of the great military innovations of all times-discipline. Under the Greek system, infantrymen were drawn up in a solid block of men sixteen ranks deep. Armed with spears nearly twenty feet long, trained to a high degree of physical fitness, and held in their ranks by discipline, the Greek infantrymen were almost invincible. They changed the course of history when they formed their Phalanx on the Plain of Marathon and defeated the Persians who threatened to overwhelm the entire civilized world.

The Greek Phalanx dominated warfare for centuries, until the Romans developed a superior organization. The Roman Legion combined the discipline of the Phalanx with a flexible battle formation called the Maniple. Maniples were small groups of men who fought under the leadership of union officers. Because of their small size, maniples could be easily maneuvered over rough ground.

With the adoption of gunpowder and firearms, the infantry fully regained its former role as the first and foremost combat – arm- a role that it retains to this day.

1. from the dawn of time- с незапамятных времен

2. to fight (fought) – сражаться, вести бой

3. to domesticate- одомашнивать

4. to invent- изобретать

5. to be represented- быть представленной

6. intertribal- межплеменной

7. prehistory- доисторический

8. mob- толпа

9. rude- грубый

10. to miscarry- потерпеть неудачу

11. due to the lack- из-за отсутствия

12. cohesiveness- спаянность, цельность

13. innovation – нововведение

14. to be drawn up into a solid block of man-быть построенным в плотную группу

15. spear- копье, дротик

16. to hold (held) in the ranks-удерживать в рядах

17. invincible- непобедимый

18. to change- изменять

19. to threaten- угрожать

20. to overwhelm- подавлять, разбивать

21. century- век

22. to develop superior organization – создать превосходящую организацию

23. flexible- гибкий

24. adoption of gunpowder and firearm- изобретение пороха и огнестрельного оружия

25. to regain- сохранять

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