Given the recent fashion for violent popular demonstrations across the world, from arabs wanting change to europeans resisting it, I began to wonder what prefirearms military force would be the best for riot control.
From preventing events like the London Riots to clearing public squares full of protesters, who would do a better job?
Assirian war chariots? Roman Legionaires? Medieval Men at Arms? Samurais?
Assume the crowds are of the violent "black block" anarchist type and that those in charge are willing to alllow for a bit of blood letting.