War drums

1. What are war drums called?
2. Why did they use drums in war?
3. What is battle drum?
4. Where did war drums originate?

What are war drums called?

The Zhangu (战鼓), or war drum, is a Chinese musical instrument. It is similar to the Tanggu (堂鼓) in appearance, but is lower in pitch.

Why did they use drums in war?

From the publishers:

Military drummers have played a crucial role in warfare throughout history. Soldiers marched to battle to the sound of the drums and used the beat to regulate the loading and re-loading of their weapons during the battle. Drummers were also used to raise morale during the fight.

What is battle drum?

: a drum beaten as a summons to war or as an accompaniment to marching or fighting.

Where did war drums originate?

Africa, Middle East, India and China were first countries to adopt use of percussion instruments in army (for example Junjung drum used by West African Serer people). The oldest recorded example of drums being used in battle come from 684 BC in China, during the war between Qi and Lu.