Warfare Flashcards
Composition of army in c1250-c1500
Armies were made up of infantry and mounted knights (cavalry). Infantry were peasants who fought on foot and were bottom of social hierarchy. Cavalry were gentry and nobility who fought on horseback and were armed with swords and lances and protected with helmets
Weapons in c1250-c1500
- Swords, in late 1300s they become thinner and more sharply pointed
- Lances & Spears
- Longbows, used in English armies from 1290 but declined in 1500s
- Crossbows
- Cannons, slow to reload + inaccurate
Recruitment and Training in c1250-c1500
Knights were from social elites and were fuedal summons, voluntary service. Infantry initially compulsed local sheriffs when needed but later contracts especially for longbow men. No official training but law passed to practice archery for all men aged 16-65 every Sunday.
Experience of civilians c1250-c1500
Could be compelled to serve in armies, food requisitioned, victims of plunder, provided shelter for troops, taxes paid to fund wars-doubled, victims of raid, received very little news about war
Weapons in c1500-c1700
Guns replace longbows and crossbows, no more archers to be trained. Muskets. Artillery (cannon became more important). Pistols. Pikes (33% of infantry weapons). Plug bayonet. Swords. Body Armour reduced to ‘back and breast’ to increase mobility as they gave no protection against shots
Composition of Army c1500-c1700
Cavalry is 33% of the army and they were increasingly armed with pistols but also swords. Dragoons (converted to cavalry). Infantry- major proportion of the army and 66% of infantry were armed with guns by 1640. Few artillery but growing in numbers. Permanent army from 1660
Recruitment and Training in c1500-c1700
In 1500 England raised an army whenever there was war but by 1700 the soldiers were professional and full-time. Cavalry from social elites. New Model Army from 1645 made up of professional paid soldiers, more drill training especially for infantry
Experience of Civilians c1500-c1700
Could be compelled to serve army, food requisitioned, provided shelter to troops, taxes directly imposed to fund wars, victims of raid, 3.6% of pupolation casualties, received some news through propaganda
Weapons in c1700-c1900
Industrial revolution enabled industry to grow, little change from 1700-1815, but large change after. Muskets and bayonets, rifles since c1850 (precussion cap firing and mechanism invented. Pistols, Artillery, Swords, Machine Guns
Composition of Army in c1700-1900
Cavalry 20% of army in 1700 then 15% in 1850 with continuing decline. Infantry the major proportion of the army- 75% in 1700 and 80% in 1850. Artillery. Army growth
Recruitment and training in c1700-c1900
Cavalry from social elites with the purchase system. 1757 Militia Act overhauls Assize of Arms system, protects from invasion and could boost army in war. Infantry professional paid soldiers but low pay. Drill training important for infantry. Cardwell reforms and bounty money, branding for punishment of troops, flogging during peacetime & purchase system for officers
Experience of Civilians c1700-c1900
Few/No wars on British soil, provided shelter and food for troops but less than before due to barracks, taxes increases to fund wars, received news of foreign wars quicker due to improved communications
Weapons c1900-present
Rifles, Machine guns, Artillery, Aircraft, Chemical weapons, Tanks, Nuclear weapons, Percision Guided Missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Composition of armies c1900-present
Infantry the major proportion of army 65% in 1914 but 25% in 2003. Cavalry 10% of army by 1914 and role ended by 1918- taken over by tanks. Artillery, improved logistics, growth of specialist troop units.
Recruitment and Training in c1900-present
Conscription during First and Second World Wars, professional and paid volunteer troops for most of the period, army size grew during World Wars, specialist training is increasingly important
