Often the implementation of organisational technologies revolutionise systems and performance. Sometimes quite cheaply. William H. McNeill identifies the introduction of systematic drill to European warfare by the Dutch Maurice of Nassau in 1585. This changed organised violence in Europe and paved the way for the modern routines of Military Drill. (more)
adam : I like these - they are like a more grounded version of the pattern stuff I attempted for a while.
cam : McNeill is looking for how power is made manifest. Where politics and violence clash to consolidate power, so he is looking for patterns that make that power possible. It is an interesting book.
He doesn't mention that drill is a technology which enables domestic suppression.
McNeill is looking at international politics, but I think it is obvious through the Irish and Australian experiences that a well armed rabble is at a disadvantage against smaller numbers of well drilled infantry. IIRC in 1804 at Vinegar Hill the convict rebels had gathered up something like 75% of Sydney's available arms including firearms and pikes but the well drilled Rum Corps cut them to ribbons quickly.
I think drill as an organisational technology is hugely important in maintaining domestic power too.
