Warfare developments in weaponry 1500-1700

Question 1

What was a Matchlock?

Answer 1

Device for ingniting gunpowder in 15th century. A major technological advance and the first mechanical firing device

Question 2

Matchlock pros

Answer 2

Took one man to fire and reload
Lead shot could penetrate steel plate armour at 100 metres
It took a matter of weeks to learn how to use

Question 3

Matchlock cons

Answer 3

Rain – the match would often not work in damp or wet conditions meaning the matchlock was useless
Reload time – often took 3 minutes to reload
Range – 100m

Question 4

What was the flintlock?

Answer 4

Any firearm that uses a flint striking ignition mechanism

Question 5

Flintlock pros

Answer 5

Flint replaced the match – more reliable and could be used for longer
Took half the time to reload of a matchlock

Question 6

What changed in this period?

Answer 6

Increasing use of firearms – 2/3 of infantry had guns in the English Civil War, all infantry had them by 1700s
Longbow no longer seen on the battlefield
Cavalry uses pistols and swords, no longer wears heavy armour (apart from steel chest piece).
Decline of the pike in favour of bayonets

Question 7

What remained the same during this period?

Answer 7

Infantry and cavalry still used, with more infantry than cavalry used.