The Military Revolution

Question 1

What is War?

Answer 1

• no UN or LoN in this period
• between states or civil wars
• typically had religious causes or undertones

Question 2

Examples of early modern wars

Answer 2

• french wars of religion 1562-98
• thirty years war 1616-48

Question 3

Micheal Roberts argument of a military revolution

Answer 3

• 1956
• proposed dates of 1560-1660
• kingdom of Sweden and the Dutch republic
• change in battlefield tactics, lighter and more mobile cavalry, better trained and drilled
• state authority increased as monarchs gained monopolies in military

Question 4

Geoffrey Parker argument of a military revolution

Answer 4

• 1976
• revised the dates, suggest it began before 1560
• dismissed the idea that armies pre 1560 were slow
• armies began increasing in size in the late 1400s and early 1500s

Question 5

Fortresses

Answer 5

• born out of the improvements in artillery from the late 15th century
• heavy stress on fortification and security
• polygon shapes
• primarily in northern Italy and frontier lands of HRE

Question 6

What were the disadvantages of fortresses?

Answer 6

• not entirely useful in Eastern Europe
• badge of sovreignity but could be useless (Casale in Monfrerrato)
• expensive to build and maintain

Question 7

Was war a profitable business enterprise?

Answer 7

• food (bread, biscuit, wine, beer)
• uniforms (cloth and leather)
• gosipitals and surgeons
• artillery, weapons and ammunition

Question 8

Weaponry

Answer 8

• pikes, 12 to 28 foot long with little training required, deterred cavalry
• muskets, initially unwieldy and dangerous, more training required
• cannon became more mobile and affordable