Money of the land (3)

One of the key reasons warfare evolved so dramatically from the medieval period to the modern era was the dramatic increase in population, fueled in large part by successive agricultural revolutions. These innovations in food production transformed societies, enabling nations to support vastly larger armies than had ever been feasible before.

Contrary to what some might think, the relatively small size of medieval armies wasn't due to a lack of manpower. There were plenty of people, but the agricultural output of the time simply couldn't sustain large forces for extended periods. Feeding thousands of men, along with their horses, was an immense logistical challenge in an age where food production was limited and vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations.