Chariot tactics

Until the invention and widespread adoption of the saddle chariots remained the primary form of cavalry, as they offered a controllable and reliable platform from which fighters could rapidly manoeuvre around the battlefield and engage with projectile and melee weapons, dismount and fight on foot or climb on to make a swift retreat.

The speed of charioteers allowed them to effectively engage in hit-and-run tactics, skirmishing from afar with bows, javelins and slings before wheeling away from danger.

The charge of horses could easily break and trample loose infantry formations, while the riders could strike from their elevated platforms with spears, swords, axe and mace and protect themselves with shields and armour.

However engaging in melee was likely very dangerous as manoeuvring through densely packed infantry formations was unfeasible and any serious damage to the wheels or the horses could quickly render the charioteers stranded.

It was one of the main technological advances that allowed for the Indo-european migration throughout Eurasia[page needed] and the chariot remained a key status symbol and weapon of war of Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Hittites and Mycenaeans until the bronze age collapse.

Relief of early wagons on the Standard of Ur , c. 2850–2350 BC
Approximate historical map of the spread of the later spoke-wheeled chariot , 2000–500 BC
The area of the oldest spoke-wheeled chariot finds within the Sintashta-Petrovka culture is indicated in purple
Depiction of an Assyrian war chariot pulled by three horses. Usually chariots were ridden in pairs of heavily armed warriors. One would usually be the designated driver who mostly controlled the reigns of the horses while the other (typically their superior) would fight with weapons such as bows, spears and javelins.
Relief of Ramses II located in Abu Simbel fighting at the Battle of Kadesh . Note that there are two archers riding in the chariot, with one of them having the reins tied around his body to free his hands. Chariots were expensive status symbols that took much training to master, reserving their use to the warrior elite.