Branch thread: Tolkien's military technology

[Inziladun]

This thread brings to mind something I've pondered before.

'It was by the devices of Saruman that we drove (the Enemy) from Dol Guldur. It might be that he had found some weapons that would drive back the Nine.'

That was Gandalf speaking to the Council of Elrond. Apparently Saruman was something of a weaponsmith, making 'devices' that worked well against the Necromancer and his troops. It's pure speculation, but I've wondered just what sort of weapons they were, and why they didn't come into more widespread use if they were so effective.

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

This thread brings to mind something I've pondered before.



That was Gandalf speaking to the Council of Elrond. Apparently Saruman was something of a weaponsmith, making 'devices' that worked well against the Necromancer and his troops. It's pure speculation, but I've wondered just what sort of weapons they were, and why they didn't come into more widespread use if they were so effective.

"Devices" doesn't necessarily refer to forged weapons, though. It could potentially be a synonym for "arts" or "methods."

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

"Devices" doesn't necessarily refer to forged weapons, though. It could potentially be a synonym for "arts" or "methods."

True, but G's specific reference to 'weapons' in the next sentence seems to me to leave open the possibility that they were items that could be physically wielded. Even if they were 'arts' such as the blasting fire later used against Helm's Deep, could not the practical knowledge of their uses have been known or taught by the other members of the White Council?

[Gwathagor]

Sure, it is a possibility.

[Kuruharan]

There have been periods in our own history where military technology declined. One of the times that most readily springs to mind is in the aftermath of the fall of Rome in the west...which is broadly speaking, a comparable era of history to the development level of Middle earth.

How one wishes to define military progress is of course up to the individual, however in the aftermath of the fall of Rome warfare on the whole became less structured, less organized and more poorly equipped.

Also note that for millennia of our history, again broadly speaking, the tools of the trade didn't change. Swords, spears, bows and various and sundry variations thereof were the tools of war until the advent of gunpowder.

I personally would have found it harder to swallow if Tolkein *had* described a world that had greatly advanced technologically, partially as a personal preference but also because our own development has taken so long.