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How could it be that 20.000 mounted Dothraki were unable to defeat 3.000 Unsullied? And why didn't the Dothraki try to or manage to outflank their enemy? Ser Jorah explains that it was the Dothraki's contempt for foot that made them resort to frontal attacks only, but I find it hard to believe that was the only reason. After all, 18 failed attempts should have convinced the Dothraki commander to try another, less direct approach.

Apart from the fact that heavy infantry can resist a heavy cavalry charge (even if the Dothraki used stirrups), one explanation could be that the Unsullied's position was so strong that flank-attacks were either impossible or difficult to execute. A hill would, for example, give them the advantage of fighting downhill, and it would also provide some protection on their flanks. A natural obstacle would of course make flank attacks impractical or impossible, and an uneven ground would hamper their advance. The Unsullied knew what they were up to, so it's no wonder that they'd seek a strong, defensive position.

At that time the Dothraki probably had little experience fighting disciplined, heavy infantry, because the attack on Qohor was part of their first western raiding campaigns. Their light cavalry was also highly unsuitable for frontal attacks, because of their light armor (if any, because the Dothraki considers armor fit only for cowards). It is also worth noting that the Dothraki only attacked thrice using missiles, which strongly suggests that they ran out of arrows, and the only offensive option left was shock action, a mode of combat in which the Unsullied were superior. Of course, they also had the option to simply retreat or surrender, which in my opinion would have been the wisest thing to do because they faced a strong defensive force and they lacked the option of attacking the enemy at the flanks or in the rear.

Their leader, khal Temmo, obviously didn't know how to handle this new and unexpected situation, but refused to give up despite tremendous losses. Ultimately, it cost him his life. His lack of tactical skills, his overconfidence and his narrow-mindedness stand in contrast to the traditionally skilled commanders of the Mongol steppe-people (of whom Ghengis Khan is the best known), who were in many ways the historical, real-life counterparts to the Dothraki.

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