Why Did Soldiers Fight? | Soldiers' Lives 

To get access to CuriosityStream for just 14.99 a Year use code sandrhoman: curiositystream.com/sandrhoman Using the link helps out our channel and gets you a 25% discount as well! edit: the Hobbes quote is used out of context. please ignore it; it was solely meant to illustrate the hard living conditions of the time not as some form of political statement.

I know, Alatriste is a good movie but, if you want to live in the sixteenth century, watch the film by the italian director Ermanno Olmi....the title is "Il mestiere delle armi" ("The profession of arms") and is the only movie that really gives you the idea of 1500's warfare! It is the story of Giovanni (de'Medici) dalle bande nere trying to slow down Landsknechts army sent in Italy by the emperor Charles V. All history lovers will appreciate this unique work also present on youtube at least in parts.

Stunning visuals once more!

The Swiss: "We are the bravest soldiers in Europe" The Spanish: **start bombardment** The Swiss: "Oh no, our bravery is no match for their heavy cannons!"

Again, making a comparison with the hoplite era of Greek history, it was still very important to keep a stoic stance in face of danger. Just like in the pike and shot era, it was important to keep the cohesion even when running away. However, in the hoplite era there was less cavalry to worry about and once you discard your weapons and heavy armor, it was much easier to get away from the enemy. Thus the Greek assembled their phalanx by tribe, family and neighbors, giving extra reasons to the hoplite to keep their place in the line and holding still. Spartans had dinner in mess halls, and the men next to you would be the men next to you while fighting. Thebas kept the Holy Band, 150 couples who fought together. Special importance was given to the shield, which was very heavy but of crucial importance because it also protected the man to your left (a soldier donned helmet and breastplate for his own protection, but used his shield for his entire line). When fleeing it would be first thing to be throw away. So Spartan mothers and wifes asked their children and husband to come back with their shields.

And then along came the first conscripted soldiers. And the only way to have a chance against a conscripted army is to introduce conscription yourself. The need for huge amount of soldiers becomes so unforgiving and essential that people need a good excuse to not join a conflict. Ain't that an unbearable agony?

Recruits then: I want to escape strict social hierarchy To function properly Recruits now: I need strict social hierarchy to function properly

Most guys: "We like the money" Some guys: "I want to defend my country" Some other guys: "I want to test my skills" The dude in the back: "I just wanna kill"

AS a veteran who was deployed four times, its simple..money. I got paid extra to go and be deployed. Its always been a motivator. The second motivator is leaving home. That's why I went. I did not want to stay at home and do notihng like my classmates.

My father was a WWII combat veteran. (Ist RCR, Sicily, Italy and Holland) He joined because the military provided better than what civilian life could, for him. 3 square meals, clean clothes, roof overhead. (subject to change, ha). So that's why he joined. I toyed with the idea of joining the military, that would have been back in the late 70's, when I was trying to get life on track and I was fed up being educated at, so college or university didn't appeal to me in the short term. I needed a break. There were no good reasons, in the final analysis, to join the military, for me. Except one: to see if I could measure up to my dad. I have to wonder how many sons (and now daughters) join the military for that reason, throughout history.

It still staggers me just how much harder life used to be, and how hardy the men were as a result.

SandRhoman History:How did a soldier in the seventeenth century fight?👍😏 Spectators: Beautiful graphics👊😎

An interesting content of wars that are commonly less known. Also, the informative animation style really allows to understand the mechanics of battle. It is always a pleasure to watch these!

I never expected Alatriste (the film) to be known outside of Spain, as the actors talk in Spanish and the only way to understand the film is with subtitles for non-spanish speakers

Damn talk about timing, just found your channel and watched the Spanish Tercio video and got roped in immediately

It's called tactical acquisition of assets and not plunder.

I have been thinking about this lately, so perfectly timed video!

Quite honestly, this channel has been a revelation: deep preparatory research and very methodological narration. Well done!

Another great video. I am always pleased to see a new one from you. Thanks.

Really enjoying this series!

I'm so glad to have new content on a sunday! Lots of channels dont drop anything today!

love you guys!! keep it up! great content!

Dude these graphics are pretty awesome. Seeing this channel grow is pretty awesome!

Love the channel! Thanks 🙏

The animations are top notch!

Love this series keep it going!

My favorite historical channel on YT. Waiting with great curiosity for your upcoming material about my country, very happy someone gives credit to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Cheers mate and thank you.

You chose a very good subject on this video, because in this period of history, the reasons are varied and interesting. On the other hand, I would like to seen you make a top of the best movies to seen the renaissance war like "Alatriste" movie; in order of historic accuracy, for type of conflicts or something like this. XD

Brilliant. Maybe a deep dive into Alatriste at some point?

Superb video, as usual. Now it would be great if you made a video about the other part of the question, which is: what made them stand and absorb enemy fire like sitting ducks?

Hobbes was referring to how man would live in a world with no strong, central governments and being in perpetual war with every other man in a state of anarchy. Be careful not to misquote people as your videos are high quality in general, especially your pike and shot series.

This channel is so underrated it’s criminal!

Got a few issues here... Firstly- although casualties from warfare increased overall during the pike and shot era, it was also a time when a) populations overall were growing fast in Europe and b) army sizes were growing at an even faster rate. There's a lot of evidence that the percentage of combatants killed in warfare actually fell during this period- battles were usually won by maneuver and forcing the enemy to retreat, rather than annihilating or capturing the enemy force. Fleeing in disarray has ALWAYS been a great way to get massacred, and isn't remotely unique to Early Modern warfare. Most losses on campaign in the pike and shot era were from disease, even more so than in the medieval era, when armies tended to be smaller and in the modern era where supply lines and logistics were more developed and it became easier to supply fighting men with adequate nutrition, sanitation and medical care. It's arguable whether warfare really became more dangerous or whether it's just that more people were exposed to warfare. Secondly: The stress on the idea that most soldiers during this era were illiterate is probably true... but is still odd and potentially misleading. Soldiers during the pike and shot era had a low literacy level by today's standard, but were still the most literate that Europe had seen in centuries, at least since the heyday of the Roman Empire. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century had produced an explosion of literacy and an explosion in public consumption of literature. Soldiers in the pike and shot era were far more likely to be directly influenced by ideologies than those of previous generations. That's why there was a surge of religious warfare between Catholic and Protestant factions during the period. People from all over Europe travelled hundreds of miles to volunteer in religious conflicts, according to their personal beliefs, in a way that would have been impossible before- e.g. English Catholics and Protestants volunteered on opposite sides of the Eighty Years War and the Thirty Years War. The very basis of modern nation states was laid during this period- the Peace of Westphalia (1648) is frequently held up as a crucial step in the development of the modern concept of national sovereignty and the attendant diplomatic system. Ideology and nationality weren't irrelevant during this period- they were the most relevant they'd been in centuries. It's really strange to talk about an era where they became much more important in warfare as if the concepts were minor sideshow issues.

Great video, such an interesting time in history

Probably one day I'll feel different, but right now Ive sent my application to the army and am waiting for my service to begin, and I did that cause I just wasn't getting enough out of life in my regular career. Had a well-paying stable job and all, but felt unfulfilled. Learning how to fight, getting stronger, being part of an organization that can go out and influence the world physically, those things feel like they matter to me, more than anything else, which is itself something that took me a long time to come to terms with. I don't know if I'll hate it, don't know if I'll get traumatized or killed or something, those fears are all real and exist, but they're trumped by the fact that this FEELS worthwhile, enough to make me leave pretty much the entirety of my current life behind to start a new one. And I don't think I'm alone in this; I think some people choose the soldier's life because they just don't fit in otherwise.

06:48: I didn't know that some soldiers from the pike and shot era even came as far as Hyrule. ;-)

Love the art as always

Tbh in the modern era the army is a pretty stable and routine job, unless you get deployed, or a war or major s**t happens.

I love ur videos, they're like textbooks come to life.

Thats a pretty cool breakdown

soldiers were recruited by drink, gold and promises of glory and riches beyond ever they could hope to gain on a farm in a nutshell

Amazing channel! Love your videos and off all history I find 16-19th century warfare least interesting, just to prove your merit!

Cheers for mentioning the story of Europe, I saw the ZDF sign. Going to watch it on you tube after I've watched your part. It's in German but since I speak the languages of my neighbours, no need for curiosity stream! Love the Chanel for the same reason, goes all over Europe even the smaller Dutch battles have come by!

Very interesting!

If you do end up watching Alatriste don't pay too much attention to the plot. For some reason they tried to cram the entire book series into one film, even though some weren't even published by the time the movie was made, and some have yet to be written

Please a video of the battle of Lepanto and the siege of Castelnouvo..........

One thing I wanna know is how the soldiers in the first row of the lines felt, or was there a preference for each soldier where they are placed in the batte.

Military or Civilian life? What I've read into with military history, ancient or even into the modern era, if the fighting is serious, Civilians were often the most worse off. To the point that the bulk of the dying are by civilians either caught in the fighting, massacred, or starved to death.

Good video - interesting subject. Back in the day the first born son inherited the farm/land/business. The rest of the males more often had the choice of a confined life as a tradesman/farmhand or to go adventuring, either by going to sea or joining the military. This type of societal structure is still a thing in large parts of the World.

I mean this question can be answered in modern sense: I couldn't do any trades and i am dirt poor, let's join the army!

Nice video

I regret not stumbling on this channel sooner. Been grinding these like hells kitchen clips, but with massive educational value. Definetely worth subbing

yay, new video :)

"Nichol proposed to a woman, but she refused because she didn't want to be with a common soldier. He swears he'll get promoted to leading a hundred men soon and propose again. He doesn't care how risky it'll be in battle. Well, I guess everyone's staked themselves on lost causes. So when I look out there, at the Band's campfires, it's like each one of those lights contains tiny hopes and dreams."

I love your videos

Can you make a viedoseries about all types of fortifications and viedos about napoleon bonaparte and how to win wars !!!

This is like my 12th video I've watched, I should probably just Subscribe.

Will You do more video's on the Dutch 80 years war?

Could anyone tell me what the tracks used in SandRhomans videos are called?

Wow this video is fantastic. Every line is a point. Your channel deserve more subscriber. According to my account your channel is the best channel on RU-vid I liked your channel very much. Your channel is my favourite .I liked your all videos. Please keep up this type of work in future please. Your all videos are stunning. I am your old subscriber from 500 subs But can you please make a video on Skanderbeg?

Your videos always make me want to play Total War.

Is Battle Koytyn comeing next?

Thanks mate

Great video, but the captions not matching what's actually being said is driving me insane

The same Question with "Why human eat?"

A good book that addresses why men throughout history have gone to war, despite all its horrors is "War" by Sébastien Junger. He goes beyond the typical social factors that are ordinarily brought up and addresses the biological, evolutionary roots of men's desire to fight, and their ability to completely disregard risk to life and limb.. Another good book in a similar vein is "The Way of Men."

These kind of formations are mindblowing to the modern mind.

Small critcism: I think what is missing here to be mentioned, is that there were involuntary/"conscript" soldiers during that time too. (in some areas called "Landesaufgebot")

It seems, the mentioned movie Alatriste is available on RU-vid also...

One word: Prosperity

Missed the chance to symbolize the push factors with a pike.

Poverty and low social status is often the primary reason why man turn to life of soldiery, it's like a societal escape valve

In adition to "Glory, god and gold" you can always add the Virginia Company as a motivation :D

"Better to be a plundering soldier than a plundered victim" Still true in some non-Western nations.

This time period is what influenced Zap Brannigans battle tactic of sending wave after wave of men at the enemy 😁

What program do u use to make the tactical animations

What about hate ? the will to simply destroy the disliked other or stranger. And of course, there's also revenge (from being a plundered victim to become a plunderer...!) Plus, but for a very small part, a broken love could also be a push factor, by despair going to war to forget and eventually be killed as much as suicide was prohibited and taboo. Those are very common powerful human's motivations (no judgement here). Btw, the movie Alatriste is nice indeed !

A. People do what people do. That is what some people do. They are natural soldiers. B. They wanted adventure. C. To get away from a previous life. D. For genuine ideological reasons. E. For the money. LOL F. To prove something. G. To be part of a 'special' group. Probably one or two other reasons as well.

Booty but not in the modern sense: well maybe. Thanks for another very interesting video.

Dennis Showalter would be a good competitor to Jack Nicholson for the Joker role, with such a broad grin. :]

Itallian guy is my favorite character

tl;dw it's ALWAYS about the money. Seriously, it is. I was in the military. For all the patriotic veneer on the surface, at the end of the day the universal sentiment among literally everyone I served with was that if something like a Federal budget crisis or whatever disrupted our paychecks, they'd instantly stop showing up to work and go get a civilian job from someone who could actually pay.

Makes complete sense.

Won’t be long until the reemergence of the citizen soldier.

"If you're out of luck or out of work / We can send you to Johannesburg."

I misunderstood the title. I thought "Why they fight" as in say US soldiers getting in a fist fight with eachother. This was waaay better.

Most of these young guys probably grew up in some bunk ass village that was small and stifling. They would have grown up hearing about stories of battle, which were both horrible but also incredibly exciting. Excitement is like a drug; people love excitement. War is Exciting! And besides, lots of guys actually come home in all one piece, so its worth taking the odds to get out and see the world and have excitement!

Is the mentioned movie, Alatriste, the one starring Viggo Mortensen, or another one?

Every soldier in every army throughout history who dies or gets maimed in battle does so for the sake of people who would not have done the same for him. What person may be so self-sacrificing that they could imagine nobility and honor might be found from the waste disposal of their bodies? Better to never have been born, than to be bred for an early, violent, painful death.

Martin Luther was a spark for protestant revolt but not the 1st in europe, 1st was Jan Hus and then Hussite revolt which actually succeeded. Jan Hus was taking his thoughts from John Wicliffe...

"A Fleeing dog cannot bite" - proverb?

@SandRhoman, sorry, but that reference to the battle at Bicoca... The German landsknechts did not serve "the Spanish", but a Flemish that had the Crown of the Holly Roman Empire, the crowns of the county of Ghent (his birthplace) and other Flemish counties, the crowns of several kingdoms in Spain an Italy... The Spanish arcabusiers at Bicoca served their king for a salary, like the Germans, Italians, Flemish and people from other countries too. The Spansish tercios only were a minor part in the armies serving the Habsburgs, although they were an important part. In fact, almost all the wars that the Habsburg kings made were not in the interest of the Spanish people, who only got poverty. Because of this mismatch in the interest of the people and the interest of the monarch, the Portuguese elected another king in 1640 and began to get richer and richer, as they had not to pay wars in Central Europe that didn't benefit any Portuguese person. In 1755 Portugal was the richest kingdom in Europe. (Then the great Earthquake of Lisbon ruined the country). Meanwhile the Spanish declined gradually until the Treaty of Utrecht and became a backward country in many aspects until the middle 18th century.

The Hobbes quote is a huge leap from the original context (which is about the state of nature) I don't think it's apropriate here

Was going to complain until I saw the comment about hobbes being used out of context! Very out of context, considering he was actually arguing that life OUTSIDE of this wartorn society was solitary, etc.

Same as always, a combination of hope, greed, creed, religion or adventure, to quote a popular title and quote a few historical names.. War never changes..

Makes sense.

XVII c is my favorite

I would add that the *religious conviction would be hugely important* for the ultimate fate in war: *death.* When you are reassured that your vehement belief that after you die, you will be received into, or waiting on Heaven in the peaceful side of Hades, it can make the weary, miserable military life and prospect of death seem like a gift. Because once you die, all of your suffering ends... provided you are on the correct side of beliefs.

The Hobbes quote at the start is taken out of context. That description is attributed to his theoretical "state of nature", and not everyday life for people in his time (or possibly any time since the dawn of civilization).

We still joined for the same reasons. I joined the navy to see the world, adventure, and money