What Changed Going Into The Early Modern Period Flashcards
Army sizes in early modern period
First 150 years of the period, army sizes didn’t change much, but over the last 50 there was substantial change.
-marston moor (1644) of the civil war- 46,000 men
-landen (1693)- 130,000 men
Army composition in Early modern period
Consisted of cavalry, infantry, artillery and pioneers(labourers and engineers who were now needed for artillery and baggage trains.
No fixed ratio between infantry and cavalry but most generals wanted 2:1; this wasn’t always possible.
Artillery in the early modern period
Became smaller and lighter and was gradually used more throughout the period. E.g. 1642 there were 20 cannons in the whole civil war but in 1692 England sent an extra 120 cannons to a campaign in the Netherlands.
The cannon had become more decisive in battle.
(How did infantry change in the early modern period) Pikemen
After 1500, the English government wanted to replace billmen with armoured pikemen (influenced by the Swiss). From 1470 onwards, Swiss Pikemen fought packed close together is vast squares or columns of often thousands of men. Were well trained to be mobile and were more effective than older styles of infantry (could stop infantry charges).
Were vulnerable to musketeers so they were trained to work effectively together.
(How did infantry change in the early modern period) how were Pikemen equipped
Equipped with metal helmets, back and breast plates and armour covering the thighs.
4.5 meter long pike.
(How did infantry change in the early modern period) Muskets
Firearms had been used since the 1400s but by 1550 the matchlock musket had been developed. Replaced the longbow.
Muskets were slow to load and heavy
They had a similar range to a longbow and fires slower but had an estimated force of 2700 joules instead of the longbow’s 150.
(Reasons the musket became widely used) changes in farming methods
Tudor enclosures meant more land was given to sheep farming which needed less workers. Reduced the number of strong men avaliable as archers (shepards often seen as weaker) and less space to practise in.
(Reasons the musket became widely used) growth of towns
Fewer men farming where it was easier to practie archery
(Reasons the musket became widely used) inflation
Prices rose faster than wages for much of the 16th century which meant people worked longer hours and had less time to practise.
(Reasons the musket became widely used) developments in technology
By 1550, matchlock musket fired a 60 gram lead bullet, heavy enough to pierce through, not just old armour, but also new high-carbon steel armour developed at the end of the 15th century
(Reasons the musket became widely used) new ideas from europe
Armies realised they could defeat swiss pike units using a large number of musketeers
(Reasons the musket became widely used) cost
The matchlock musket had a standard bore (diameter of hole in gunbarrel) meaning bullets could be mass produced and thousands could be stored in a barrel.
Arrows were expensive and delicate to make and archers would normally carry only 24 of them
(Changes to cavalry) Pistols
Wheel-lock mechanism: a clockwork mechanism that struck a spark to light the gunpowder. Were less powerful than the musket and had a shorter range
(Changes to cavalry) Use of Pistols
-Arquebus and musket were too combersome to use on horse back. Pistols were 30-60cm long and could be fired from one hand.
-1540s onwards, cavalry used complicated manoeuvres to fire pistols at infantry at short range and ride back out to range to reload. These were skirmishes.
(Changes to cavalry) charges
1620s and 30s, the Swedish army, which had English and Scottish regiments, won several battles using cavalry as shock troops (in charges) like in the medieval period. The idea was brought back to England and used in the civil war.
