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GCSE Warfare Through Time > Early Modern Period (1500-1700) > Flashcards

Early Modern Period (1500-1700) Flashcards

1
Q

When did size of armies continue in this period?

A

First 150 years

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2
Q

How did size of armies change in last 50 years od period?

A

Got bigger. Garrisons could use up to 75% of soldiers

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3
Q

How was the army composed in this period?

A

Mix of cavalry, infantry, artillery, all supported by pioneers and baggage trains

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4
Q

What army composition ratio did most generals want?

A

2:1

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5
Q

Why did generals want more infantry than cavalry?

A

For sieges

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6
Q

Why did Royalist army increase in cavalry size later into the Civil Wars?

A

As damaged infantry couldn’t be renewed

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7
Q

Why were cannons only really used in sieges in 1500?

A

As they were hard to move on poor roads

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8
Q

When did cannons start to be used in battles?

A

When field artillery became smaller and lighter

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9
Q

How many cannons did most European armies have for battle by 1630s?

A

90

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10
Q

What happened by 1692?

A

Artillery trains increased in size

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11
Q

Why were pikemen used used 1500?

A

As English government wanted armoured pikemen

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12
Q

What was needed for pikemen to be successful?

A

Discipline and training

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13
Q

How was it clear that pikemen change was slow?

A

Even in 1590s, government still believed there were too many billmen

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14
Q

Why were pikemen and musketeers joined together?

A

By 1520, muskets threatened pikemen
Together they required extra training

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15
Q

What showed that pikemen were stronger than old style infantry?

A

1470 and onwards moving swiss pike units were unbeatable and organised

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16
Q

When was arquebus replaced with matchlock musket?

A

By 1550

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17
Q

Why did musket replace longbow despite longbows shooting 6x faster?

A

It could pierce the high-carbon steel arrow-proof armour from 15th century

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18
Q

Had do we know longbows took too long to master and practice?

A

Skeletons from the Mary Rose warship had skeletons identified as archers due to stress injuries on shoulders

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19
Q

Why did tudor enclosures damage archer use?

A

Less strong men available as archers and less space to practice

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20
Q

Why were there less people in farming who could practice archery?

A

Towns grew

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21
Q

How did inflation affect archery practice?

A

People had less time to practice as they had to keep up with rising prices

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22
Q

Why were pistols developed in 1540s?

A

Arquebus and musket too cumbersome to use on horesback

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23
Q

How small was a pistol?

A

30-60cm long

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24
Q

How did pistols work?

A

Had a wheel-lock mechanism that worked like flint and steel

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25
How did cavalry with pistols affect armour and armies?
Replaced heavily armoured cavalry and armour was gradually abandoned, with few wearing a 'back and breast' by 1640s
26
How were cavalry used from 1540s?
Rode close to enemy, fired pistols and ran back to reload
27
Who used cavalry as shock troops first?
Swedish army
28
What were dragoons?
Mounted infantry with arquebuses, cheap horses, no armour and dismounted to fight
29
How were dragoons used?
To skirmish infront and attack enemy flanks
30
When were dragoons most used and when were they fully replaced with cavalry?
Most - mid 17th century Replaced - by 1700
31
How did cannons change late medieval warfare?
Allowed attackers to have advantage in sieges as they could smash down walls
32
How did defenders gain advantage in sieges again by early 1500s?
Italian military engineers came up with walls that cannons couldn't destroy
33
How were castle fortifications improved from 1530s?
Thick, low walls filled with earth so cannons couldn't shatter walls Bastions provided flanking fire positions for defending cannons
34
Why did Britain have to invest in new fortifications?
For protection from invasion and conquest
35
Show an example of how new fortifications were proven to be needed?
At Drogheda (1649 Irish campaign), the castle only had high medieval stone walls so fell to Cromwells cannon in only six days
36
How were battles done in this period?
Sieges and controlling territory
37
How were infantry organised in this period?
In regiments. Each regiment consisted of pikemen and musketeers
38
Why did pikemen and musketeers need to work together to be effective?
Cavalry could ride down musketeers but pikemen stopped this. Pikemen were slow to move and susceptible to muskets/pistols.
39
How were drumbeats used?
To signal different formations
40
How did square formation work?
When cavalry came, musketeers moved inside square so pikemen could defend
41
What was infantry vs infantry called?
Push of the pike
42
What were the disadvantages of matchlock muskets?
Misfires with gunpowder Burning match went out in rain Glow from match gave soldiers away
43
How did flintlocks work?
With a flint and steel mechanism
44
Advantages of flintlocks?
Removed need for match Half as long to reload as matchlock
45
Disadvantages of flintlock?
Expensive and delicate
46
How were flintlocks used in 1645?
In the New Model Army to guard artillery trains
47
Why was having to make musketeers and pikemen work together a problem?
Was a waste of troops and required too much training
48
What was the solution to muskets and pikemen having to work together?
Bayonets - took a long time to come along
49
Give the timeline of the development of bayonets?
Plug bayonet (1647) - bayonet had to be fitted into the barrel so both didn't work at once Ring bayonet - allowed both to fire but wasn't secure Socket bayonet (mid 1690s) - used a locking system to solve security problems
50
Why did the bayonet take a long time to be adopted?
Technology Social attitudes as some generals thought pikes were a more honourable weapon than a musket
51
How was experience of warfare treated in this period?
As normal as England were at war most of these years
52
Give the dates of the three main periods within the Early modern period?
1500-1642: systems started by Tudors 1642-60: English Civil wars and English Republic 1660-99 - the Restoration and war abroad
53
When did Tudors come to power?
End of the War of the Roses (1485)
54
How did tudors want to recruit army?
Didn't want nobles to have too much power as nobles began to feel they could challenge the king
55
What system did tudors go back to?
The militia system
56
What was the militia system?
All men 16-60 had to serve and provide own weapons
57
How were arms and armour of militia sytem checked every couple of years?
General musters in each county
58
Who did monarch appoint in each county to run militia?
Lord Lieutenants
59
What did monarchs in tudor system do if troops had to serve overseas?
Told Lord Lieutenants who to 'press' into fighting
60
When were trained bands set up and why?
In 1573 as the militia system was providing poor quality troops
61
When did Muster Masters begin to run training and why?
In 1580s as there was growing fear of Spanish invasion
62
Why didn't local gentlemen like taking orders from Muster Masters?
They were often from lower classes
63
Why did training worsen in 1590s?
Muster Masters droped for local gentlemen, showing how social attidudes affected war
64
How were musketeers trained to fight?
In six rows where ranks walk in front then back to reload. Took lots of training
65
What did a professional soldier who was a commander to resist Spanish invasion wrote to a friend to show the English training was working?
'I wonder why I see no man affeared but myself.'
66
Why did training not seem to be working well in 17th century?
Wars overseas had few volunteers, meaning unemployed and criminals were forced to fight. Corruption was high as men could bribe their way out of war.
67
Give two pieces of evidence to show that by the 17th century, the Tudor system of fighting didn't work?
Only 10% of 12k men sent to fight in Germany in 1625 were alive the next year - overseas wars fatal 1639 and 1640 wars against Scotland were a disaster
68
What kind of soldiers dominated early years of English civil wars?
Amateur soldiers
69
How did nobility and gentry sustain attitudes in England Civil Wars?
Still didn't like being told what to do by professional soldiers.
70
Why was fighting overseas not really working in English Civil Wars?
Troops often refused to fight far from home and pay often months late
71
What does it mean that both sides took 'free quarter' during English Civil Wars?
They took supplies from locals and merchants without paying
72
What were 2 problems with armies in the English Civil Wars?
Infantry were pressed and desertion was common
73
Why did amateur soldiers dominate?
Amidst the social attitudes, they had a chance to become experienced and successful
74
What happened in Winter 1644-45?
Parliament raised a paid national army with successful soldiers in command rather than politicians
75
Why couldn't Cromwell command the NMA?
Was an MP
76
Who commanded the NMA?
Sir Thomas Fairfax
77
Show the numbers of the NMA and pay to show that there weren't enough men?
Cavalry: 6600, 24p a day. Cromwell had well trained and disciplined cavalry Dragoons: 1000 from existing forces Infantry: 14400, 8p a day. Half from existing forces and half pressed. April-Oct 1645, 14500 men pressed due to desertion.
78
What were controversial things about Fairfax's commanding?
Wanted successful soldiers no matter what class Had Cromwell as second-in-command, who was gentry Many officers weren't gentry
79
When did NMA desertion rates decrease?
As they won a series of smaller battles and sieges which boosted morale.
80
Why didn't NMA really have to press men to serve?
It was a professional voluntary army. Didn't disband after war like armies before.
81
What were the years of peace at end of this period?
1647 and 1651-58

GCSE Warfare Through Time (11 decks)

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