Military Divergence

Question 1

Which lecture coined the term ‘military revolution’?

Answer 1

Michael Roberts, The Military Revolution: 1560-1660 (1955)

Question 2

Which book extended the concept of the military revolution to fortification and used it to explain the rise of the west?

Answer 2

Geoffrey Parker, The Military Revolution: Innovation and the Rise of the West, 1500-1800 (1988)

Question 3

Which book coined the term ‘the Great Divergence’?

Answer 3

Samuel Huntingdon, Clash of Civilisations and the Remaking of the World Order (1996)

Question 4

In which battle did Babur defeat the Delhi Sultunate and establish the Mughal Empire?

Answer 4

Paniput (1526)

Question 5

Who defeated the Delhi Sultanate at the Battle of Paniput (1526)?

Answer 5

Babur

Question 6

What weapons did Babur use at the Battle of Paniput (1526)?

Answer 6

c.20 cannon, handguns

Question 7

By the most conservative estimates, how large was the Mughal army in the 17th century?

Answer 7

over 1 million men (largest in the world)

Question 8

Why didn’t Mughal armies develop western style foot drill?

Answer 8

Nothern Indian Plain -> continued effectiveness of ranged cavalry -> infantry fighting in open order

Question 9

Why did the Mughal empire not have standardised equipment?

Answer 9

Soldiers were required to provide their own clothing and equipment

Question 10

In which decade did the Mughals collapse?

Answer 10

1710s

Question 11

What was the standard military model in India following the collapse of the Mughals?

Answer 11

A series of non-standardised armies commanded by Jagirs, disbanded after each campaign

Question 12

Between which years did the land registered for tax purposes increase fivefold in Song China?

Answer 12

959-1021

Question 13

By what percentage did the area of land registered for taxation in Song China increase between 959 and 1021?

Answer 13

500%

Question 14

In 1021, what percentage of Song Chinese tax receipts were spent on the military?

Answer 14

75%

Question 15

How much iron per capita did Song China produce in 1078?

Answer 15

1.4kg/capita

Question 16

By which year was Song China producing 1.4kg iron per capita?

Answer 16

1078

Question 17

In which year does coordinate crossbow volley fire appear in Chinese foot drill manuals?

Answer 17

c.800

Question 18

What tactic appears in Chinese foot drill manuals in c.800?

Answer 18

coordinated crossbow volley fire

Question 19

In which decade did the Song use foot drill, flag and drum communications to defeat a Jin invasion?

Answer 19

1130s

Question 20

What innovations did the Song use against the Jin in 1130s?

Answer 20

foot drill, flag and drum communications

Question 21

By what date were Chinese armies making use of cannon?

Answer 21

early 1200s

Question 22

In what decade did the Portuguese introduce the Arquebus to China?

Answer 22

early 1540s

Question 23

By what decade were the Chinese using Arquebus volley fire?

Answer 23

1560s

Question 24

Between which dates did no European ruler lose their throne as a result of inter-state conflict?

Answer 24

1500-1790

Question 25

Which economic historian modelled the game theory of European warfare?

Answer 25

Philip Hoffman

Question 26

What was the Total Factor Productivity growth for artillery, muskets and pistols in England through the late medieval and early modern period?

Answer 26

0.6%

Question 27

By what year were European weapons three times cheaper than Chinese?

Answer 27

1600

Question 28

How much cheaper were European than Chinese weapons by the year 1600?

Answer 28

three times

Question 29

When was the Sengoku Jidai?

Answer 29

1467-1615

Question 30

What innovations were developed in Japan during the Sengoku Jidai?

Answer 30

adoption of Arquebus, formation drill

Question 31

Which two explorers were both rejected by the Spanish but were funded by the Portuguese?

Answer 31

Columbus and Magellan

Question 32

In what decade did the Chinese recognise the superiority of Western cannon whilst fighting the Portuguese?

Answer 32

1520s (Sino-Portuguese War 1521/22)

Question 33

What features of western cannon in the 1500s made them superior to Chinese cannon?

Answer 33

longer barrels, higher muzzle velocity

Question 34

In what did year did China enter a century long period of peace?

Answer 34

c.1450

Question 35

When was the most peaceful period in Chinese history (900-1900)?

Answer 35

1760-1830

Question 36

How many wars against non-nomadic opponents did China fight between 1500-1799?

Answer 36

3

Question 37

How many wars did France, Britain, Spain & Austria fight against non-nomadic opponents between 1500-1799?

Answer 37

210

Question 38

What natural boundaries did Song China run up against following consolidation in 980?

Answer 38

Eurasian Steppe, Alpide Belt

Question 39

What did the Song forbid in 1436?

Answer 39

construction of ocean going ships

Question 40

In which year did the Song forbid the construction of ocean going ships?

Answer 40

1436

Question 41

When was the Second Sino-Portuguese War?

Answer 41

1521/22

Question 42

When did the Chinese begin constructing swivel cannon based on Portuguese designs?

Answer 42

1523

Question 43

In which year did Chinese salvage teams recover 26 cannon from the wreck of the Unicorn?

Answer 43

1623

Question 44

How many cannon did Chinese salvage teams recover from the wreck of the Unicorn in 1623?

Answer 44

26

Question 45

In which year did the Dutch drive the Chinese out from Taiwan?

Answer 45

1652

Question 46

In which year did the Chinese use volley fire and riflemen to drive the Dutch out of Taiwan?

Answer 46

1661

Question 47

By what year were Portuguese craftsmen founding cannon in India (as a single block)?

Answer 47

1506

Question 48

By what year was the Mughal empire buying ammunition from the East India Company?

Answer 48

1649

Question 49

From where did the Mughal's get their handgun designs?

Answer 49

Mamluk's (who got them from Europe)

Question 50

In which year did John Wilkinson invent the cannon lathe?

Answer 50

1774

Question 51

In which year were the first carronades produced?

Answer 51

1778

Question 52

When was the First Opium War?

Answer 52

1839-1842

Question 53

In which year did Ding Gongchen describe steam power?

Answer 53

1840

Question 54

Who was the first Chinese person to describe steam power in writing?

Answer 54

Ding Gongchen

Question 55

What did Ding Gongchen conclude about China's ability to produce steam ships?

Answer 55

'the artisans of Guangdong have no machines for making machines'

Question 56

In which year did Joseph Whitworth create machines to measure accurately to within one millioneth of an inch?

Answer 56

1840