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Who first used scorched earth techniques? And was it sucseful? (self.askhistorians)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Don_Dickle to c/askhistorians

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[–] PugJesus 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

We do have some idea from preserved writing and depictions contemporary with the Bronze Age. The evidence is much less plentiful than in later societies, though, which, themselves, are often hotly debated due to the paucity or vagueness of available evidence.

The period between 4000BCE and 1000BCE is extremely mysterious. To the point that the few documents we find we don’t even know how to read. So even if someone invented history at that time, we won’t know how to read it today.

We can read hieroglyphics and most forms of cuineform.

[–] dragontamer 3 points 2 weeks ago

I'd argue that hieroglyphics and cuneiform are exceptions to the norm. They only cover the largest of ancient civilizations with the largest troves of writing.

IIRC, stuff like Indus River Valley writing has never been decoded.

[–] Carrolade 2 points 2 weeks ago

The Rosetta Stone came in very handy.