Earlier warfare does not become irrelevant simply because modern weapons can strike farther and cause greater destruction. Coastal attacks, sieges, and pressure on civilian populations predated industrial and nuclear technology, though their scale differed. A modern commander may launch long-range missiles from one position, while an eighteenth-century state had to send an army or naval squadron to the target. Historical lessons about the purposes of war remain usable when the changing methods and capabilities are kept in view.
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Intent and the changing scale of war
Changing technology alters the scale of violence, while strategic intent remains a useful basis for comparing wars across centuries.