The Battle of Carrhae (53 BCE) illustrated the decisive power of mobility and ranged warfare in antiquity. Roman heavy infantry, unmatched in close combat, struggled against Parthian horse archers who refused fixed engagement. Continuous missile pressure and feigned withdrawals exhausted Roman formations and disrupted command cohesion. Carrhae revealed the limits of infantry dominance when unsupported by effective cavalry and missile countermeasures. | History photo