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Why did military schools teach subjects such as trigonometry and military engineering?
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tactics
Sumerian phalanx, a block of foot soldiers depicted standing shield-to-shield, presenting spears, and advancing in a dense mass, detail from the Stele of the Vultures, limestone bas-relief, c. 2450 bce; in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
Military schools incorporated subjects like trigonometry and military engineering because warfare increasingly evolved into a technical, scientific profession rather than a purely intuitive art.1
- Trigonometry: This branch of mathematics was essential for artillery officers to perform range finding and calculate trajectories. By using trigonometric functions, officers could determine unknown angles and distances, which were critical for the accuracy of methodical bombardment and other tactical operations.21
- Military Engineering: As warfare became more systematic, engineering became central to both offensive and defensive operations. Military engineers were responsible for designing complex geometric fortifications, such as the trace italienne, which were necessary to counter the power of gunpowder artillery. Furthermore, they managed vital logistical tasks, including the construction of roads, bridges, railways, and telegraph networks, as well as the surveying and mapping of terrain for military movement.134
By the 18th and 19th centuries, these technical skills were considered fundamental to the professionalization of the officer corps, ensuring that military leaders could master the rules and principles of modern, science-based warfare.41