I dunno that the Jin or Song had fortifications that could match the crusader castles, but they -certainly- had armies that far outclassed anything the Europeans or the Byzantines could put into the field. armies that were not just far more numerous, but armed with better weapons with superior logistics capabilities.
the Song armies were armed and armored via proto-factories and had the same level of gunpowder weapon usage that wouldn't be seen in the West until probably the 15th or 16th century.
and the Mongols still beat them. granted, it took twenty years of grinding warfare. i highly doubt Europe or even the Romans at their height would have survived twenty years of continuous Mongol campaigning right next to their center of power. the Song Navy alone was double the size of the entire First Crusade.
the Song armies were armed and armored via proto-factories and had the same level of gunpowder weapon usage that wouldn't be seen in the West until probably the 15th or 16th century.
and the Mongols still beat them. granted, it took twenty years of grinding warfare. i highly doubt Europe or even the Romans at their height would have survived twenty years of continuous Mongol campaigning right next to their center of power. the Song Navy alone was double the size of the entire First Crusade.
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