How important was technology in warfare prior to the rise of European guns?

by wumao

For example:

Stirrup vs. no stirrup.

Plate armor vs. scale armor vs. lamellar armor.

Counterweight trebuchets vs. catapults.

Composite bows vs. single piece bows.

Iron weapons vs. bronze weapons.

How big a role did technology play in pre-gunpowder warfare? Did an army equipped with bronze weapons notice a significant difference when facing one with iron weapons? When did stirrups begin to see use? Is the advantage of plate armor really that great vs. other sorts of armors?

Is warfare really a vertical climb in technology with the one with the most advanced tech the victor? If so, then how did the Chinese lose to the Mongols when one had gunpowder and the other did not?

Searocksandtrees

hi! not discouraging other responses here, but there have been several posts on a few of these examples; you may be interested in collections of posts here: