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Recommended: Industrial revolution and change in warfare

The culmination of several principles has supported the dominance of the Western military through-out the 1600s to WWI: technology, discipline, military tradition, and economic power. While each is important, technological advancement from the time of the Prusso-German War, Civil War, and World War I significantly changed the tactics and landscape of warfare. Technological innovations of rapid firing weapons and the railroad enabled the speed by which materials and soldiers reached the front lines and the way they killed. In addition, technological innovations became progressively faster and the impacts became larger through time. Technology clearly defines and explains western military dominance and its reputation for what the West has become. Thus, technological advancements are, argumentatively, the most significant principle of Western military dominance.
One of the first major technological innovations was the development of the breech-loading rifle by the Prussian Army. The breech-loader provided a higher rate of fire with more accuracy. In addition, it was safer, eliminating the dangers of ramming charges on top of one another. During the Prusso-German War, the Prussian Army reaped the advantages of the breach loading rapid firing rifle and it became the decisive contribution in the battles. Against a massed bayonet charges conducted by the Austrian army, the Prussian officers would dismount, lie down on the ground, and shoot aimed shots with continuous volleys. During a battle at Podol on 26 June, a single Prussian company during a 33-minute battle fired 5,700 rounds killing 1,000 of the 3,000 Austrian soldiers, while only having 130 casualties. The decisive victory was due to the soldier's ability to relo...

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...owerful impact in creating new tactics and warfare that defined military dominance in the West. The initial technological innovations in the 17th and 18th century were incremental and made very little impact of how wars were fought. On the other hand, that era provided the foundations of the technological developments and enabled the more profound impact in the 19th and early 20th century. The innovations of rapid firing weapons and railroad transportation provided the foundation for future technological advances. The West has quickly adopted technology and it has become an essential element, more vital than ever before. The way we fight today is a clear reflection of the major impact that the technological modernization that took place in the 1800 and 1900s and those technological innovations has become the pillar of what soldiers depend on for survival today.

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