Military uniforms in use across the world today are based largely on European designs, stemming either from European-informed military modernization programs (such as in Meiji Japan), or inherited by post-colonial states.
In a timeline where Europe did not rise to become the dominant political/economic/military force - i.e., timelines where Asian or Middle Eastern civilizations fill this role - what form do you think military uniforms would take? Would the types of clothing used by imperial armies in medieval and early modern Asia and the Middle East continue in use? Or would utilitarian considerations tend to result in a convergence wherein most ATL uniforms would in some respect come to resemble their modern OTL counterparts?
I'm considering both dress uniforms for officer corps and ceremonial use, and battlefield combat dress; these have tended to diverge greatly over the last century, so speculation on the manner and timing of such a divergence in Eastern-dominant ATLs is also welcome.
In a timeline where Europe did not rise to become the dominant political/economic/military force - i.e., timelines where Asian or Middle Eastern civilizations fill this role - what form do you think military uniforms would take? Would the types of clothing used by imperial armies in medieval and early modern Asia and the Middle East continue in use? Or would utilitarian considerations tend to result in a convergence wherein most ATL uniforms would in some respect come to resemble their modern OTL counterparts?
I'm considering both dress uniforms for officer corps and ceremonial use, and battlefield combat dress; these have tended to diverge greatly over the last century, so speculation on the manner and timing of such a divergence in Eastern-dominant ATLs is also welcome.