Warfare

The Evolution of Warfare

15th to 17th century Europe

War has always been brutal , but the motives for it change over time . The nature , tactics and methods of war in Europe changed coming out of the Middle Ages . There were many specific reasons for these changes , but in general terms they were driven by advances in science and technology

The Late Middle Ages

Warfare in the Middle Ages was not conducted by the large armies so common today . War was often waged by competing factions of nobility Lords employed their own

mercenary forces . These were highly skilled archers who would lay siege to castles , often for long periods of time

Castles were an imposing fortification built by the wealthy landowners There were several options available to attackers , though . In some cases a blockade was used to prevent any reinforcements or provisions from reaching the castle . A wall could also be attacked by using towers and ladders

Rams and other objects were also used to cause a breach in the wall Gaining entry by means of subterfuge was sometimes an option . In any case , a high skill level and a great deal of patience were required

Soldiers of the day were part of the aristocratic class . Warfare , in their eyes , had a certain nobility . This was part of the knightly ideal Knights would often battle each other in the woods for no other reason than the honor and glory of doing so

Many historians believe that the art of warfare reached its zenith during the

Middle Ages . The image of the highly skilled , noble and chivalrous knight is one that

survives even to this day

Other historians take a slightly different view of the knightly ideal As with many aspects of history , the real picture may be more complex In The Myths of Medieval Warfare , Sean McGlynn writes

The knight was ill-disciplined , too proud to fight on

foot , adhered only to the most rudimentary tactics

and was poorly led . 1

The knight may or may not have been a figure of honor . Regardless coming advances in technology would render him obsolete as a warrior

Technological Advances

The invention of gunpowder revolutionized warfare . Having been invented , centuries before in China gunpowder came into limited use in European wars during the fifteenth century

The cannon first became an effective tool of warfare during The Hundred Years War between English and French dynasties . Cannons dramatically cut the time necessary for a siege . As artillery improved the old medieval castles became obsolete as defensive positions

The personal firearm also came into use by the late fifteenth century . The musket , in turn , prompted the development of the infantry With these advances , warfare had become more deadly . In the English Civil Wars , fought between 1642-1651 , as many as 100 ,000 men died 2

McGlynn , Sean . The Myths of Medieval Warfare ' History Today . v . 44 (1994

Factophile .com . Major Wars of Medieval and Modern Times (2006

War in the Gunpowder Age

Guns and artillery had made the highly...