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Author Topic: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army  (Read 2120 times)

Offline vexillia

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 527
    • Vexillia
Re: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army
« Reply #15 on: May 27, 2022, 07:09:27 PM »
That would be great.

Offline OB

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1609
Re: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army
« Reply #16 on: May 31, 2022, 08:52:05 AM »
My first post about my Arab Conquest project is now on my blog.  There are pics of the first few units. If it is of interest click the link below.

In the meantime you can see Donnington New Era and Forged in Battle figures in this unit. The fellow with the cymbals and the second rank swordsmen are from Donnington.

https://youdonotknowthenorth.blogspot.com

Offline Digger

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 53
Re: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army
« Reply #17 on: May 31, 2022, 10:03:33 AM »
Great looking unit.  Very nice indeed.

Pete

Offline vexillia

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 527
    • Vexillia
Re: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army
« Reply #18 on: May 31, 2022, 11:00:05 AM »
Tried to post this on your blog but I get  "Google sign in error":

[1] I agree with you about Hoyland.  Well structured, clear and simple prose style.  My recommended first read for those new to the period.

[2] The Arabs never developed any tradition of horse archery but the Turks, as steppe nomads, did.  In the later period (post Conquest) you've got to remember there were a lot of Moslem Turks in the Eastern empire, and the Eastern armies, and the Abbasids took over from the East.  Kennedy covers this in his "The army of the Caliphs" chapter 5: "The armies of Samara 833-70 - The coming of the Turks and the new model army".

Hope that helps?
« Last Edit: May 31, 2022, 11:05:17 AM by vexillia »

Offline OB

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1609
Re: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army
« Reply #19 on: May 31, 2022, 08:37:59 PM »
No idea what happened there.  It seems to be taking comments now.

1.  Oddly enough they do seem to have an archery tradition in the biblical and classical period, Arab city states deploy archers in the Roman period, later Arab troops serve in Sassanian and Byzantine armies both of whom have a prominent archery component.  In our period Kennedy gives examples of Arab horse archers.  Consider the three visits to the Chinese.  On the third visit the Arabs appear mailed and with their bows on their shoulders.

2. Steppe archers excel and Turk tactics brought something powerful and new.  So, the Turks replace the Arabs as the dominant military caste of Islam.  What puzzles me is when the bow disappears from the Arab cavalry.  We are even told that that the Bedouin despise the taking of life with a bow.  Something had changed and when currently eludes me.

Offline OB

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1609
Re: Assembling an Arab Conquest Army
« Reply #20 on: May 31, 2022, 10:52:22 PM »
Great looking unit.  Very nice indeed.

Pete

Thanks Pete, they are all nice figures to paint.

 

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