Composition Of Army

Question 1

Continuity

Answer 1

• Army size, Falkir 1295 and Bosworth 1485 both had 21,000

- Strategy and command, castles were used to control areas and were captured to conquer.

Question 2

Change

Answer 2

• Mounted knights could dismount in battle
• Plate armour was used more, replacing chainmail
• Cavalry were no longer superior, ratio of infantry to cavalry changed from 2:1 to 3:1 because of longbow men. Schiltrons were developed to counter cavalry charge.
• Longbows used from late 1300s, people forced to train with them, allowed the english to win because of superior longbow men, Agincourt 1415

Question 3

The cannon improvements

Answer 3

• 1320 to1430 cannons were not significant and couldn’t break down Harfleurs walls.
• 1430 to 1500 metal was used to make barrel and balls, design improved, trunnions could adjust height for distance change, specialist cannons eg bombards and mortars were made

Question 4

Impact of cannon improvements

Answer 4

• More useful in battle e.g. Castillon 1453 against cavalry

- More useful in sieges e.g. Harfleur 1449 fell to cannons.

Question 5

Was firearms and cannons a turning point?

Answer 5

No because english army chose longbow over firearms as it was unreliable and slow to load, cannons were only effective when the weather was good and was hard to manoeuvre.