Just a few decades later, we see soldiers like the Swiss pikemen doing things like running at full speed in perfect formation, with no better way of communicating orders
Not to be glib, but what makes you think that they were? I'm not trying to be that guy who screams "begging the question," but if you'll tell me what you're thinking of and what you've been reading perhaps I can better respond to your question.
u/Rittermeister
I know Clifford Rogers makes this claim in his "Tactics and the Face of Battle" essay (European Warfare, 1350-1750). His argument is that medieval infantry was very strong defensively, but significantly weaker if used offensively.
John Chandos' observation of 1368 that 'it goes ill with the side that attacks first' was echoed by Jean de Bueil in the late fifteenth century: 'All those who advance on food break their own array and put themselves out of breath, and ordinarily they suffer defeat.' Thus, strategy often involved the use of devastation, maneuvers, or sieges designed to push the enemy into accepting the burden of the tactical initiative.
He credits new tactics and discipline introduced by the Swiss for turning this around towards the end of the 15th century. In the late 15th century Swiss pikemen had apparently become very eager to go on the offensive, even against numerically larger armies with superior cavalry and firepower.
For Rittermeister:
I know Clifford Rogers makes this claim in his "Tactics and the Face of Battle" essay (European Warfare, 1350-1750). His argument is that medieval infantry was very strong defensively, but significantly weaker if used offensively.
"John Chandos' observation of 1368 that 'it goes ill with the side that attacks first' was echoed by Jean de Bueil in the late fifteenth century: 'All those who advance on food break their own array and put themselves out of breath, and ordinarily they suffer defeat.' Thus, strategy often involved the use of devastation, maneuvers, or sieges designed to push the enemy into accepting the burden of the tactical initiative."
He credits new tactics and discipline introduced by the Swiss for turning this around towards the end of the 15th century. In the late 15th century Swiss pikemen had apparently become very eager to go on the offensive, even against numerically larger armies with superior cavalry and firepower.