Military Revolution - Demographic Change Vs Technological Change

Question 1

Debate - Roberts vs Parker

Answer 1

Roberts - firearms require new tactics, drill - need for standing army, hence money, hence modern state
Parker - fortifications and siege require specialists - need for standing army
Black and Duffy - concept too simplistic

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

There was a military revolution…but…in stages (evolution.
Knowledge management crucial and understudied.

Question 3

Military revolution at sea

Answer 3

Commercial revolution - galleys vs sailing ships in 14th century Venice for trade and war
Venetian gulf galleys (first permanent modern navy)
Increasing importance of artillery
New sailing ship - hybrid of galley and roundship
Developed into high tech floating artillery platforms
Professionals are required!

Question 4

Military revolution on land

Answer 4

Fortresses
Artillery - infantry revolution
Continued use of cavalry

Question 5

Gunpowder as a game changer

Answer 5

Charles viii descended into Italy with 140 canons

Artillery remains heavy though

Question 6

Static fortresses - trace italienne

Answer 6

How to cope with artillery fire?
New type of fortification - trace italienne, star shaped fortress (Vauban)
Can withstand enemy arty fire and deploy fire itself
Emerges slowly in Italy but is perfected by the Dutch and France

Question 7

Static siege - engineers and artillery

Answer 7

Old and new craft
Engineers - sapping - mainly mining
Artillery increasingly decisive

Question 8

Force mix

Answer 8

Cavalry survives

But, rise of infantry

Question 9

Training of the infantry

Answer 9

The slow advent of drill - written, academic vs. Artisanal transmission of knowledge
Pikes men - tercio - drill for pike engagement

Question 10

Volley fire - drill - revolutionary?

Answer 10

No - seen as restrain of good old practice

Question 11

Was cavalry made obsolete by rise of infantry?

Answer 11

No, but not as important anymore - battles in the past were essentially decided by the cavalry. Now the infantry more decisive.
Nevertheless, cavalry remains crucial up until ww1 for things such as flank protection reconnaissance and policing

Question 12

Logistics

Answer 12

The baggage train - logistical challenge of siege warfare and artillery
Living on the land increasingly problematic
Sea-borne logistics, ports, supply bases, depots along marching routes
Increasingly sophisticated war finances specialists - quartermaster

Question 13

Organisation and tactics

Answer 13

Hierarchy
Commanders of various levels
Military planning, campaigns, staff officers
Professional, academic training of specialists

Question 14

Ownership of standing army

Answer 14

Middle Ages - feudal

17th century onwards - increasingly professional corps owned by rulers

Question 15

Societal change

Answer 15

Nobility and gentry - officers
Ascendancy of the technical soldier - siege engineers, naval officer…
Armies become distinct and permanent
Fiscal burden

Question 16

Conclusion

Answer 16

Military revolution - yes, but…
Stages! (Evolution rather than revolution)
Restoration of past knowledge, technical skills required - professionalisation - drill
Diversification - force mix - infantry decisive - cavalry - artillery