Early Modern Period (1500-1700) Flashcards
When did size of armies continue in this period?
First 150 years
How did size of armies change in last 50 years od period?
Got bigger. Garrisons could use up to 75% of soldiers
How was the army composed in this period?
Mix of cavalry, infantry, artillery, all supported by pioneers and baggage trains
What army composition ratio did most generals want?
2:1
Why did generals want more infantry than cavalry?
For sieges
Why did Royalist army increase in cavalry size later into the Civil Wars?
As damaged infantry couldn’t be renewed
Why were cannons only really used in sieges in 1500?
As they were hard to move on poor roads
When did cannons start to be used in battles?
When field artillery became smaller and lighter
How many cannons did most European armies have for battle by 1630s?
90
What happened by 1692?
Artillery trains increased in size
Why were pikemen used used 1500?
As English government wanted armoured pikemen
What was needed for pikemen to be successful?
Discipline and training
How was it clear that pikemen change was slow?
Even in 1590s, government still believed there were too many billmen
Why were pikemen and musketeers joined together?
By 1520, muskets threatened pikemen
Together they required extra training
What showed that pikemen were stronger than old style infantry?
1470 and onwards moving swiss pike units were unbeatable and organised
When was arquebus replaced with matchlock musket?
By 1550
Why did musket replace longbow despite longbows shooting 6x faster?
It could pierce the high-carbon steel arrow-proof armour from 15th century
Had do we know longbows took too long to master and practice?
Skeletons from the Mary Rose warship had skeletons identified as archers due to stress injuries on shoulders
Why did tudor enclosures damage archer use?
Less strong men available as archers and less space to practice
Why were there less people in farming who could practice archery?
Towns grew
How did inflation affect archery practice?
People had less time to practice as they had to keep up with rising prices
Why were pistols developed in 1540s?
Arquebus and musket too cumbersome to use on horesback
How small was a pistol?
30-60cm long
How did pistols work?
Had a wheel-lock mechanism that worked like flint and steel
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
How were cavalry used from 1540s?
Rode close to enemy, fired pistols and ran back to reload
Who used cavalry as shock troops first?
Swedish army
What were dragoons?
Mounted infantry with arquebuses, cheap horses, no armour and dismounted to fight
How were dragoons used?
To skirmish infront and attack enemy flanks
When were dragoons most used and when were they fully replaced with cavalry?
Most - mid 17th century
Replaced - by 1700
How did cannons change late medieval warfare?
Allowed attackers to have advantage in sieges as they could smash down walls
How did defenders gain advantage in sieges again by early 1500s?
Italian military engineers came up with walls that cannons couldn’t destroy