trurle
Banned
I think everybody omit the important factor of slavery. While slavery-based economics is clearly motivating nomads for raids, it also results in lower areal density of fighting nomads (non-combatant slaves need food after all, and nomadic society was food-limited).
Prevent widespread slavery across nomadic states (by religious alteration, exemplary slave revolt or other factor) and you can have more dangerous nomads later into the history. Instead of last large raid by Crimean khan Qırım Giray in 1769, Crimean (or other nomads) can remain dangerous up to 1850. At this point, development of rifles, railroads and soon Gatling Gun, make the cavalry charges increasingly suicidal, regardless of numbers and tactics.
Also, the question of nomadic armour. Most nomadic tribes used leather and cotton, but generally too light designs to be effective. Alternatively, imagine Mongols/Tartars/Nogais wearing a highly resistant Ichcahuipilli cotton armour? The shrapnel or buckshot efficiency will be greatly reduced, and musket or cannon balls are simply not enough to stop a massed charge. Some speed reduction will happen of course, but overall firearms efficiency will be reduced several times anyway.
P.S. The usage of padded armour has declined in Europe in 17-18th centuries, mostly for economic reasons. Armouring nomads will require a good trade links to cotton or flax producers. May be possible for nomads without slavery.
Prevent widespread slavery across nomadic states (by religious alteration, exemplary slave revolt or other factor) and you can have more dangerous nomads later into the history. Instead of last large raid by Crimean khan Qırım Giray in 1769, Crimean (or other nomads) can remain dangerous up to 1850. At this point, development of rifles, railroads and soon Gatling Gun, make the cavalry charges increasingly suicidal, regardless of numbers and tactics.
Also, the question of nomadic armour. Most nomadic tribes used leather and cotton, but generally too light designs to be effective. Alternatively, imagine Mongols/Tartars/Nogais wearing a highly resistant Ichcahuipilli cotton armour? The shrapnel or buckshot efficiency will be greatly reduced, and musket or cannon balls are simply not enough to stop a massed charge. Some speed reduction will happen of course, but overall firearms efficiency will be reduced several times anyway.
P.S. The usage of padded armour has declined in Europe in 17-18th centuries, mostly for economic reasons. Armouring nomads will require a good trade links to cotton or flax producers. May be possible for nomads without slavery.
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