Scale has always been a problem in GRRM's world. People have used measurements in the books to illustrate what Winterfell and the Wall would actually look like, and they just don't make any sense. They're HUGE! GRRM has discussed this in interviews: his approach is to take historical elements and make them BIGGER because of fantasy. Take it or leave it, but that's where he's coming from
Oh thank goodness, I wanted to read all of these blog posts but I simply don't have time to read them all. Luckily I can listen while doing other things!
Some scholars have spoken of a medieval (really late mediaeval) Military Revolution when armies first became large, better organised, and more destructive, the dark side of the famous "medieval origin of the modern state". Probably " revolution" is a misleading term. Perhaps we should speak of an ascending curve of destructiveness, beginning around 1250 and reaching its horrific peak in the mid - twentieth century.
The question is whether this is just one of those temporary speed bumps that tends to come after a particularly shocking war - the Thirty Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, to name a few. We may still be on the ascending curve in terms of destructive capacity.
How interesting is it that you're analysing AOSIF in relating to the Middle Ages in Military, Social and Political terms, while ignoring what would be the most important and in fact the essential aspect for medievals themselves: Religion. Which, of course, already betrays the modern bias of this.
He and his family are converted to the Lord of Light But a good majority of his soldiers are still practicing Seven worshippers And although he’s religiously opposed to his enemy, the core Claim for his war is a disputed title inheritance.
