Combat has only seriously changed very recently. Siege engines were around etc. They only thing that wasn't really was equipment was the same value for def. and off. and cohesion didn't exist.
I can recall population, but can't recall if it actually declined.. erm it was 8 years ago! There was an option to call out the militia which gave you 800 man units in the capital when it's threatened (still around? not sure). It was a hell of a fight though.
