How Much Did Weapons Change In The Middle Ages

Question 1

Give a brief description on what swords where and how they changed during this period

Answer 1

Main weapon used by knights in hand to hand combat during the Middle Ages. In the 13 century they where broad and flat in order to deliver crushing blows against knights wearing chain Mail. From the late 14th century they became thinner and sharply pointed designed to thrust into the joints of armour.

Question 2

Give a description of the longbow and describe any changes to it?
Include key facts think RSUF

Answer 2

The longbow itself changed little during the Middle Ages.
- Range was just over 350 meters highly accurate up until 200.
-Steel bodkin shaped arrows could penetrate if they hit at a 90 degree angle.
- However most of time it was Used in mass to deliver wreaking and disorienting blows.
- A skilled archer could fire 8-12 a minute. They required a lot of strength to use and due to the force required to pull it back it could cause deformities on the spine and shoulder from repeated use

Question 3

Staff weapons

Answer 3

These where simply just based on staffs. They had a sharp wooden end or metal blade attached such as a spear or pike. It was most effective with close spearmen which could form and impenetrable formation. They where not often used in hand to hand combat due to them being unwieldy

Question 4

Crossbows

Answer 4

They could fire bolts at tremendous force. By the end of the Middle Ages bolts fired from these could penetrate even plate armour. They where so hard to pull back that they used a cranequin which pulled it back for them which had to be used however this would slow down their rate of fire to around 2 per min

Question 5

Metallurgy: the science of metals

Answer 5

In mid fourteenth century new methods of making steel were developed that meant for the first time it could be mass produced to the point of being able to make plate armour. Previously it was only possible to make small quantities for arrows or swords.

Question 6

Why was steel a good choice for swords, arrow heads and plate armour ect

Answer 6

Steel was good as it was both hard and shatter resistant. Iron for example was no good for plate armour as it was brittle