马镫是一项具有划时代意义的发明。正如英国科技史家怀特指出的,“很少有发明像马镫那样简单,而且很少有发明具有如此重大的历史意义。……马镫把畜力应用在短兵相接之中,让骑兵与马结为一体”(White,1962:38)。确实,马镫使骑兵在战争中的地位大大提高,战术亦随之发生改变,从而使整个世界战争史大为改观。马镫出现后,马匹更容易驾驭,骑马者更加稳健安全,加速了骑兵的发展。由于在军事上的重大实用意义,马镫一经发明,便在欧亚大陆迅速传播,并在军事、政 Stirrup is an epoch-making invention. As the British historian of science and technology White pointed out, “there are few inventions that are as simple as a stirrup, and very few inventions are of such great historical significance.” Ma Yan applied herd force to close combat and allowed the cavalry to be integrated into the horse (White, 1962: 38). Indeed, Macheng made the status of cavalry in the war greatly improved and its tactics changed. As a result, the history of world warfare has been greatly improved. After the stirrup appeared, the horses were easier to control and the riders were safer and safer, accelerating the development of cavalry. Because of its great practical significance in military affairs, when he was invented, his horse was rapidly spread in Eurasia and was used by the military and government