Reddit reviews Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army

The biggest differences between logistics during the medieval period and the antiquity period is in the degree of political centralization of the state and the strength of the state's economy. Under Roman governance, trade stretched from all reaches of Europe and became highly specialized. But with the collapse of the Western government and the political fragmentation of the West, long distance trade collapsed and the power of the successor states weakened. This is especially important since the state needs to maintain a substantial number of supply depots, roads, communication posts, ports, and other infrastructure if the state wishes to be able to wage war for an extended period of time and over a great distance.

If you think about it, battles during the classical Roman era could see armies that number easily into the tens of thousands. However, if you look at the size of many of the more important medieval battles, they usually number from single digit thousands and in the rare occasion, they will go into the double digit thousands. See the Siege of Orléans, the Battle of Cadsand, the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and the Battle of Clontarf just to name a few. One of the exceptions to this trend, however, can be found in the medieval Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. Under their governance, they were still able to maintain well funded logistical infrastructure.

There are several monographs written by medieval experts but I don't know them off the top of my head. However, I do know of several monographs written on logistics in antiquity. The most well known book on ancient logistics is Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, which kicked started the field of ancient logistics. For logistics in Roman history, see The Logistics of the Roman Army at War (264 B.C. - A.D.235).

I'm guessing it's this one (pretty much the only thing google comes up with):
Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army

Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics.

Here are two reads that are accessible but still very informative.

https://www.amazon.com/Supplying-War-Logistics-Wallenstein-Patton/dp/0521546575/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493824623&sr=1-5&keywords=military+logistics

https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Great-Logistics-Macedonian-Army/dp/0520042727/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493824623&sr=1-6&keywords=military+logistics

I'd recommend this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexander-Great-Logistics-Macedonian-Army/dp/0520042727

Its a great introduction to the nature of logistics and is relevant for any pre-vehicle period as frankly, the equations don't change.

Alexander is tremendously well known for his logistical expertise. Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army is one of the go-to texts about military logistics in the ancient world.

http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Great-Logistics-Macedonian-Army/dp/0520042727

Suggested reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Great-Logistics-Macedonian-Army/dp/0520042727/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474593692&sr=8-1&keywords=Alexander+the+Great+and+the+Logistics+of+the+Macedonian+Army

What's your thoughts on "Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army" by Donald Engels?

https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Great-Logistics-Macedonian-Army/dp/0520042727

Alexander and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army is an enlightening book.

May I recommend the following book

Its absolutely essential reading for all questions of movement and supply.

I would say though that for a warband (assuming something Viking-esque) that 20-40 miles per day sounds reasonable (depending on terrain and availability of supplies obviously). 20 miles standard, up to 40 miles if they are really, really pushing it (and don't assume they can keep it up for long).

I am assuming they are on foot. On horse it's a different story. Different breeds of horse have different levels of stamina. But the average horse is generally more delicate than the average human. If your warband ride their horses for 40 miles in a day they are likely to have a lot of dead horses.

I've heard a figure quoted of about 12-15 miles per day with horses - if you want to keep them fit and healthy.

Yes, yes, I know various horse nomads could do more than that. As I said, different breeds of horses.

>Your being friends with a relatively high-profile engineer really does not make your plans more coherent.

Oh my holy titty fucking christ. Continually harping on the "you have not explained this to my satisfaction" without specific questions is getting old. I am honestly not sure about what part of my plan is not coherent. Honestly. the inability to accurately describe what is inside my mind to others is my single greatest failing as a human being and I readily admit that.

1. Incorporate and prepare for resource allocation.
   
2. Begin online media campaign to raise awareness and accept resources.
   3.Build first facility to demonstrate feasibility of tech and iron out design complications yet to be realized. (this includes the Hughes-001 a scout drone of my design) Which will serve a variety of functions including safety and scientific purposes.
   
3. Introduce long range drone designs and test feasibility at the now SLE-0001.
   
4. Optimize agriculture production. (I plan to fly in Ron finley and Carleen Madigan and compensate them for their time) Train the first OFH agriculture specialists and prepare them for exponential growth.
   
5. Begin deployment of decentralized manufacturing grid. Supporters will receive 3D printers in their home that they can use for free but we can also remotely command to print parts we need. This is crucially essential to building the sheer number of drone chassis that will be needed within a very short amount of time.
   
6. Strategically build out SLE-0002 SLE-0003 SLE-0004 etc... There is a reason why I have been going around for the past 2 years securing hundreds of acres of land. I plan to fucking use it.
   
7. Connect SLE's using the long range drones in a metropolitan area. (this may take several years to do the first time)
   
8. Begin Operation POLR (exponential growth through the path of least resistance)
   
9. Begin A.I. program.
   
   
   Do you want me to give you my business plan word for word so you steal it? No thanks.
   
   > Can you honestly look at what you've typed here about the deployment of the Macedonian army and not understand why someone would think you are delusional?
   
   Not if that person is smart enough to understand that historical reference and the significance of the acheivment. Unheard of at the time.
   
   > If your plans really made sense you would be able to convey the gist of them in a way that similarly made sense. Yet you haven't... or were you going to claim again that I'm too stupid to understand it?
   
   Help me to help you Let me just walk you through every single facet of my plan so that you can run to Oprah and declare it your idea. If you have specific questions just ask them and I will try to help you.
   
   >So here you are claiming and claiming again that you and whoever are working on something that will revolutionize everything! while simultaneously shitting all over anyone skeptical of your claims and anything that contradicts you. Please take another moment to think critically about why people have responded to you the way they have.
   
   I am not pitching perpetual motion. Just an overall societal vision of using soon to be common technologies to disrupt industries and establish a new parcel delivery system that generates excessive energy surplus as a by product using less than 10,000 supporters out of 7 billion potential supporters. Culminating in a connected one world automated drone grid. This is why I am waiting for you to have an aha! eureka! moment.
   
   The reason why you believe I am insulting your intelligence is because I have explained this plan countless times and (I would estimate) less than 5% of people get it. And these are really smart people I talk to.
   So I have developed a callousness to the nay sayers.
   I don't have time to explain to you the way I see the world. You are probably not capable of ever getting it. And that is ok.
   
   You would think a human being that have been alive for the rise of cell phones would be more receptive to the possibility of this.
   
   >Perhaps you should combine this thought:
   
   Oh are you a therapist now?