Advantage of terrain

The term does not exclusively apply to battles and can be used more generally regarding entire campaigns or theaters of war.

In the former instance, dense vegetation can provide concealment for tactical movements such as setting up an ambush.

In the latter, the elevation can provide an advantage to soldiers using projectile weapons, such as arrows or artillery pieces.

Securing a terrain advantage is an important consideration for modern commanders, particularly those engaged in unconventional tactics such as guerrilla warfare, but it was likely of even greater concern for pre-industrial forces since the lack of mobility during first-generation warfare left soldiers very vulnerable to its effects.

The ancient military strategist Sun-Tzu, for example, dedicated an entire chapter in his treatise The Art of War to terrain and situational positioning.