EDITORIAL - First times
The ancient world, and by extension, its military history, is the period we look for the fundamental firsts. First writing, first political systems, firsts in warfare. "Why, thank you captain obvious, I'd never realized" I hear you say. Fair enough, it's hardly a penetrating new insight.
But with this theme, we have an important first. Thutmose III's battle of Megiddo is thought of as the first battle in history. Obviously there were earlier battles. We even have some evidence: glimpses of armies, claims of conquests, archaeological finds of weapons and fortifications, and boasts of royal feats in battle. But that's it. Come the reign of Thutmose III, and thanks to the vagaries of survival, we suddenly have a narrative record of what (one side says) happened.…
