Early Modern Warfare c.1500 to c.1700

Question 1

How did muskets change?

Answer 1

Went from matchlock musket to flintlock musket. Flintlock introduced in 1610s.

Question 2

What were features of the matchlock musket?

Answer 2

Lit by match. Easily penetrated plate armour, basic training to operate. Slow reload- 2 to 3 shots/minute. Muzzle loaded, 50m accuracy. Unreliable in wet weather. Smoothbore and fired lead musket balls.

Question 3

What were features of the flintlock musket?

Answer 3

Lit with flint and steel igniting gunpowder. Less unreliable in wet weather. Still muzzle loaded, smoothbore, musket balls, slow reload, etc.

Question 4

How widely was the flintlock musket used?

Answer 4

1630s only used by those guarding gunpowder stores (danger of smouldering cords near explosives), but later used my widely by infantrymen.

Question 5

How did swords and pikes change?

Answer 5

Not many changes from MA. Used to stab in hand-to-hand combat, pikes slightly longer. Limitations to handguns meant they were still useful. Pikes used in Push of Pike.

Question 6

How did cannons change since MA?

Answer 6

Manufactured on larger scale, lighter. Still poor accuracy and limited range, cast iron. Still heavy so field guns moved by horses were developed. Become smaller, lighter, manoeuvrable over time.

Question 7

What were pistols first like?

Answer 7

Introduced in EMP. Used by cavalry- smaller, lighter than muskets. Shoot at close range. Expensive, unreliable, complicated. Wheellock firing mechanism.

Question 8

How did pistols change?

Answer 8

New firing mechanisms meant it could be used with one hand. Replaced by snaphance pistols. Remained quite unreliable, short range, inaccurate.

Question 9

How did infantry change?

Answer 9

60% throughout. Longbowmen and untrained farmers to trained musketeers and pikemen. Fought in lines now in square formations.

Question 10

How were musketeers deployed?

Answer 10

Dutch Counter-march (Prince Maurice of Nassau) and Swedish Salvo (King Gustav of Sweden)

Question 11

What was the Dutch Counter-march?

Answer 11

6x6 square formation in which musketeers were deployed. Front line fired while other reloaded, then went to back and rotated. Multiple DCs across frontline.

Question 12

What was the Swedish Salvo?

Answer 12

6x6 square formation in which musketeers were deployed. Front 3 lines fired while others reload, then went to back and rotated. More continuous volley firing, more likely to hit target. Multiple across frontline.

Question 13

What were dragoons?

Answer 13

Around 20%. Rode to battle on horseback then dismounted.

Question 14

How did cavalry change since MA?

Answer 14

Around 33%. Fought on horseback again, didn’t wear plate armour anymore (muskets rendered it obsolete). Cavalry charges, on flanks of battlefield.

Question 15

How did artillery change since MA?

Answer 15

1 to 2%. Long range firemen (cannons). Used to bombard and disrupt enemy infantry formations. Rarely used- inaccurate, immobile. Placed behind army, fired over.

Question 16

How were pike-men deployed?

Answer 16

Square formations- Push of Pike. Pike-men used their combined weight to push against enemy pike-men, with their pikes horizontal at shoulder level to stab enemies.

Question 17

How did recruitment and training change since MA?
ie what were features of the New Model Army?

Answer 17

Self Denying Ordinance, drill training, paid in arrears, increased discipline, conscription, propaganda pamphlets, etc.

Question 18

What was Self Denying Ordinance?

Answer 18

Law passed in 1645- MPs and Lords could no longer be military leaders. Reduced nepotism, removed incompetent leaders who had command due to elite social status.

Question 19

What was Drill Training?

Answer 19

The army would frequently repeat and train set manoeuvres to properly perform formations. NMA conduced extensive drill training.

Question 20

What does it mean to be Paid in Arrears?

Answer 20

Soldiers received wages after completing work. Reduced desertion as they had to complete work to earn money.

Question 21

How did funding for the NMA change?

Answer 21

Increased funding, more taxes imposed in Parliamentarian areas to help fund wages and equipment of NMA.

Question 22

How did discipline and payment change?

Answer 22

Discipline of troops enforced more strictly. Infantrymen paid reasonable wage, encouraged better discipline.

Question 23

How were civilians affected by war?

Answer 23

Military recruitment, destruction of homes and livelihoods, providing assistance to the military.

Question 24

How did military recruitment affect civilians?

Answer 24

Civilians conscripted into army had no choice. Propaganda pamphlets spread to encourage people to join. ECW- 22,000 men fought in civil war, more impacted in CW.

Question 25

How did destruction of homes and livelihoods affect civilians?

Answer 25

Many large towns where troops were garrisoned (stationed) experienced direct violence and large-scale raids. Looting and raiding across country in ECW.

Question 26

How did requisitioning affect civilians?

Answer 26

Forceful taking of resources by government for war. Took food to feed armies who ‘lived off the land’, did not carry enough food.

Question 27

How did billeting affect civilians?

Answer 27

Civilians expected to offer accommodation (quarters) to soldiers. Demanded 1/4 of shelter. Took livestock, food, materials. Also made them targets as troops were garrisoned there.