c1250-1500 - Impact On Civilians

Question 1

What were the impacts of Feudal duties for recruitment

Answer 1

• civilians were forced to fight by the king, meaning desertion and refusal were common
• civilians increasingly chose to pay money to avoid going to war (scutage)
• fighting meant time away from family, injury and risk of death
• recruits were expected to provide their own equiptment and provisions for 40 days

Question 2

Why was Requisitioning enforced and what was its impact?

Answer 2

• kings needed food and supplies for their armies
• food and fodder was requisitioned from civilians (purveyance)

Question 3

How did requisitioning affect civilians?

Answer 3

• weren’t paid or were promised to be payed at a later date
  -they had less food and supplies for their own use
• they were out of pocket to the crown

Question 4

What were the benefits of warfare?

Answer 4

• pay was better in the army than pay for work on land. A master craftsman earned 4d a day, mounted archers earned 6d during 1350
• the demand for supplies, weapons, fortifications etc boosted the industry and gave employment. E.g. during the hundred years war, it was a time of prosperity in englands construction etc

Question 5

What was the impact of wars effect on civilians?

Answer 5

• sieges - Involved cutting towns or cities off from supplies of food and water, and increasingly bombarding them, forcing them to surrender
• plunder - Involved stealing supplies from communities and giving it to the army. This left the enemy starved
• ransom - an army would camp nearby towns. Money could be demanded from enemy communities for protection and from captivites in order to secure their release. In 1380, 168 civilians were seized in a french town, bergerac
• raids on communities - Enemy army was paid to go away. In 1296 a scottish army raided the north of england. Contemporary sources say they killed infirm people, old people and children

Question 6

Why was taxation increased?

Answer 6

Kings had to build castles, pay troops and pay for weapons - this means he needed lots of money - causing tax increase - causing hard citixenship

Question 7

Why did the king suggest Seizing ships?

Answer 7

As well as food, kings also requisitioned ships for transport - to send armies and supplies to the campaign in france required many ships