What kind of tactics did armies use before guns?

Question

I'm thinking along the lines of tactics such as a blitz, where the opposing army moves at a rapid pace and sorrounds the opponent before the ETA. Are there any more you can think of? I can think of one more, slash and burn...but I need more. Please help, thank you

oh yeah, please explain the terms to me...kind of bad with terms, thanks.

Answer 1

Orders of battle: forward field, left field, right field and rear reserves.

First rank: infantry with long spears to hold off the enemy cavalry.
Second rank: cavalry to break the enemy line.
Third rank: hand-to-hand infantry armed with light weapons.
Fourth rank: archers who will fire over the infantry to unhorse the enemy cavalry, break the defensive enemy first rank, and create disorder: especially with firebrands to set the grasslands on fire during summer.

There will also be scouts on the surrounding hills to watch the orders of attack and help anticipate enemy flanking. Scouts will often be armed with bows, and will have whistling signal arrows for day and flaming signal arrows for night.

First rank stabilizes the line: cavalry moves forward. Cavalry opens the enemy defensive line to the following light infantry to attempt to break the enemy line and fight toward the commanders.

Forward attacking field is flanked by left and right. Left and right fields attempt to contain the enemy, the forward attack attempts to drive a wedge through the defensive line and divide the enemy force.

Forward defensive line attempt to divide the attacking line and drive the attack into the left and right defensive flanks.

Answer 2

Military tactics (Greek: Taktikē, the art of organizing an army) is the collective name for methods of engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics.

Answer 3

Ambush
The art of an ambush has been used in almost every conflict. You lure your enemy into a specified are where your troops lay in wait, once the enemy enters the kill zone that you have covered tehn you spring the ambush and attack them. The surprise factor will catch the enemy off guard and allow for almost total domination of your opponents and they become sitting ducks if done right

Answer 4

The main tactic before guns was to extend your line so it was longer that the opponnents line. Then you could attack his line on a flank where it was weakest. Another factor was what weapons were involved since clubs would use different tactics than bows.

Answer 5

Numbers. Simply a tremendous amount of foot soldiers/ horsemen to outnumber, overwhelm, and defeat an enemy.

Answer 6

divide and conquer. what armies do is they separate the enemy into smaller groups. each group would then be defeated in turn by the advancing army