Okay, so I'm in the middle of writing a novel and I am trying to keep it as realistic as possible. There are many things I am going to ask, so apologies in advance.
1: What was the point of musket lines where people lined up and shot all at once? Wouldn't that be extremely dangerous considering that a single hand grenade would wipe everybody out along with making them easy targets?
2: How were cavalry utilized in combat for the ancient European civilizations? I don't need to know about the Mongols, because everyone knows about them.
3: Why did people transition to using muskets when longbows were still far superior in range?
4: How were heavily armored troops dealt with in combat? I've read about how durable armor was during medieval times, and was wondering how people would get around it.
Hi, there's lots here, so not discouraging other responses, but fyi you'll find information on a couple of these in the FAQ.
Question 1: check out section https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/faq/militaryhistory/earlymodernwar#wiki_line_formations.2Flinear_tactics
Question 3: this section https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/faq/militaryhistory#wiki_early_firearms
Question 2: early cavalry, in particular that of the Persians and Greeks, was dual-purpose medium cavalry. Armed with spears and swords, these men would ride up to an enemy line and throw their spears if the enemy was intact and ready to resist, or charge home if they weren't. They were extremely effective against other cavalry and their swords made them very useful in chasing light infantry and fleeing enemy troops. Despite their reputation for heavy infantry warfare, the Greeks actually used cavalry very effectively in many of their battles, prizing their flexibility and speed as a way to create tactical opportunities.
Over time, cavalry armour became heavier, and heavy cavalry began to specialise in the charge. The Macedonians fielded cavalry armed with lances that could no longer serve in a skirmishing role but was very effective in the charge, forcing holes into infantry lines and wreaking havoc on enemy horsemen. It is often claimed that such cavalry could not be truly effective until the introduction of the stirrup (probably an invention of the Chinese, brought to Europe in the 6th century AD), but this is refuted by many military accounts and even the practical experience of modern riders. From the Persians that resisted Alexander to the Franks that fought for Rome against the Huns, countless peoples used shock cavalry as the decisive part of their army.
Once heavy shock cavalry service became the standard way for the wealthy to fight on horseback (from the Roman Empire to Iran and beyond), firing missiles from horseback became a skill of specialists. Victories such as that of the Parthians at Carrhae (53 BC) show how effective a mix of shock cavalry and horse archers could be.
There is some pretty useful literature on early cavalry and its introduction in Europe. See especially: