Zvezda 8051 EGYPTIAN INFANTRY

Infantry throughout the period of ancient Egyptian civilization was an important combat force in his armed forces, and certainly was the most numerous type of armed force. During the Old Kingdom (around 2700 to around 2200 BC), the army performed primarily defensive functions. It was then that many forts appeared on the southern border, manned by the Egyptian infantry. It is worth adding that most probably no larger units of the professional army were functioning at that time, and the lion's share of the Egyptian infantry was formed on the basis of a mass move among peasants from a given nome (an administrative unit in the Egyptian state, roughly corresponding to the modern province). Its defensive armament was primarily a shield, and clubs, clubs, spears and daggers were used as offensive weapons. During the period of the Middle Kingdom (about 2100 to about 1800 BC), the number of professional units in the army increased, but the army continued to perform defensive tasks. A significant change took place during the New Kingdom (ca. 1550-ca.1070 BC). First of all, a combat chariot appeared in the Egyptian art of war, but also a group of high commanders - probably "professional officers" - grew, who had a positive impact on the quality of command of the New Kingdom's armies. Probably it was then that the basic weapon of the Egyptian infantry, next to the bow, became the khopesh, a specific, Egyptian single-edged sword. However, it should be remembered that its first copies appear already in the Old Kingdom and it was used on a smaller or larger scale before the New Kingdom. At that time, some infantry units also began to use canvas armor with metal accessories. The percentage of professional soldiers in the Egyptian army also increased significantly - they were now playing the main role in it.