Change In Compostion Of The Army

Question 1

What caused the change in composition of armies and troops

Answer 1

Major changes in weapons happened during this period which had a significant impact on the composition of armies

Question 2

How did infantry change ? Remember amount and equipment

Answer 2

Infantry where still the biggest proportion of armies
Composed of a combination of musketeers and pikemen
Proportion of musketeers gradually increased driving this period
By 1700 all infantry men where armed with muskets

Question 3

How did dragoons change ?

Answer 3

General info: Small proportion of the army
Mounted infantry with muskets
Didn’t change much during this period
Cheap to recruit and maintain
Rode horses into battle then dismounted to fire

Question 4

How did cavalry change?

Answer 4

General info: typically made up one third of an army
Armed with swords and pistols
Key point: No longer wore armour due to muskets and instead just wore breast plates

Question 5

Artillery ?

Answer 5

Didn’t change remained in very few numbers

Question 6

What are some similarities in the composition of armies to the Middle Ages?

Answer 6

Main division of an army being cavalry and infantry and infantry still making up the largest portion

Question 7

What are some differences to the composition of armies to the Middle Ages?

Answer 7

Type of infantry being used (pike men and musketeers replacing longbow men)
Artillery was a whole new addition even thought cannons had been around

Question 8

List all four components of a typical army in the early Morden period and there amount?

Answer 8

Infantry: largest proportion
Dragoons: small amount
Artillery: very few
Cavalry: around one third