Teutoburg Forest, Little Bighorn, and Maiwand: Why Superior Military Forces Sometimes Fail

History tends to confirm that the technologically advanced society has a greater advantage in warfare than the more primitive society. For most battles this seems to hold true however, there are exceptions to this rule. This thesis examines three different battles in history where a primitive, tribal force was able to decisively defeat a better-equipped, more advanced army. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 focuses on the Roman army versus Germanic tribes at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, Chapter 3 investigates Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and Chapter 4 discusses the Battle of Maiwand in the Second Afghan War. The thesis attempts to answer three questions What was the standard doctrine for the professional armies at the time of the defeat, and did the commanders stray from this doctrine How did the primitive armies negate the technological advantages of the opposing side or did they and Were there any cultural factors that contributed to victory for the primitive forces Although each of these battles was waged under unique circumstances that contributed to the victory of the primitive force, three main themes link them. In each battle, the technologically advanced army used predictable tactics, while the primitive army employed new tactics that served to negate some of the technological advantages of the superior force. Also, cultural influences played a role in strengthening the primitive armies resolve to fight despite seemingly poor odds.