Warfare Through Time

Question 1

What was the time period of warfare in England from c1250 to c1500?

Answer 1

England was at war for most of the period, either in civil war or war with France, Scotland, or Wales.

Question 2

What were the two main components of medieval English armies?

Answer 2

Infantry and mounted knights (cavalry).

Question 3

Who primarily made up the infantry in medieval English armies?

Answer 3

Peasants who fought on foot.

Question 4

How were infantry soldiers treated compared to other soldiers?

Answer 4

They were treated poorly compared to mounted knights.

Question 5

What type of protection did infantry soldiers typically wear?

Answer 5

Skull caps and leather jackets.

Question 6

What was the primary role of mounted knights on the battlefield?

Answer 6

They were the most powerful force, using tactics such as the mounted charge and the rout and chase.

Question 7

What was the mounted charge used for?

Answer 7

To charge through enemy lines and kill the enemy commander.

Question 8

What was the purpose of the rout and chase tactic?

Answer 8

To scatter enemy infantry and attack them once they were dispersed.

Question 9

What was the infantry’s task during a battle?

Answer 9

To hold the enemy attack and then defeat the enemy infantry.

Question 10

What social class did mounted knights belong to?

Answer 10

Gentry and nobility.

Question 11

What weapons did mounted knights typically carry?

Answer 11

Swords and lances.

Question 12

What kind of protection did mounted knights have?

Answer 12

Helmets and chainmail.

Question 13

What was the shield wall?

Answer 13

A formation with overlapping shields and spears or pikes to hold enemy attacks.

Question 14

What does mêlée refer to in battle?

Answer 14

Hand-to-hand fighting with swords, pikes, and daggers.

Question 15

What role did archers play in medieval battles?

Answer 15

They used bows or crossbows and worked with mounted knights to break down the enemy at the beginning of battle.

Question 16

How many soldiers typically made up an army in this period?

Answer 16

Between 5000 and 10,000 soldiers.

Question 17

What was the typical ratio of infantry to mounted knights in an army?

Answer 17

Usually, there were twice as many infantry as mounted knights.

Question 18

How did the feudal structure impact army command?

Answer 18

Armies were commanded by those in superior social positions.

Question 19

Who were the social classes in the feudal structure?

Answer 19

• Kings
• Lords
• Noblemen (commanders) and gentry (knights)
• Peasants (infantry)

Question 20

What was the purpose of warfare for kings and lords?

Answer 20

To protect their power and take power from other kings and lords.

Question 21

What was the feudal system?

Answer 21

A system that organized society into groups based on people’s roles, where land was granted in return for service.

Question 22

What happened when the feudal system began to break down?

Answer 22

Kings paid for soldiers to fight, known as mercenaries.

Question 23

In the feudal system, what was more important than combat experience?

Answer 23

Social status.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: The infantry used _______ for hand-to-hand fighting.

Answer 24

[swords, pikes, and daggers]

Question 25

What was the impact of new weapons and formations on warfare between 1250 and 1500?

Answer 25

Decline of mounted knights and changes in tactics and strategy ## Footnote The introduction of longbows, pikes, and cannons transformed military engagements.

Question 26

What weapon was introduced in the 1290s that became crucial for English armies?

Answer 26

The longbow ## Footnote It became a key part of English military strategy for 150 years.

Question 27

How many arrows could a longbowman fire per minute?

Answer 27

15 arrows per minute ## Footnote This was five times more than the rate of the crossbow.

Question 28

What was the effective range of a longbow?

Answer 28

200 metres ## Footnote This was twice that of shorter bows and crossbows.

Question 29

What formation did the Scots under William Wallace use in battles?

Answer 29

Schiltrons ## Footnote These were tight formations of infantry with pikes facing outward.

Question 30

What significant development in warfare arrived in Europe in the 13th century?

Answer 30

Gunpowder ## Footnote It was used to fire cannons, which became standard siege weapons by 1450.

Question 31

What effect did cannon development have on castles?

Answer 31

Old styles became increasingly vulnerable to cannon fire ## Footnote This led to changes in castle design to enhance defense.

Question 32

List two limitations of early cannons.

Answer 32

* Heavy and expensive to transport * Inaccurate against small targets ## Footnote These limitations made them less effective in certain situations.

Question 33

What improvements were made to cannons over time?

Answer 33

* Enhanced range and aim * Use of metal for barrels and balls * Development of specialist cannon for longer distances ## Footnote These advancements increased the effectiveness of cannons.

Question 34

What was one consequence of the decline of mounted knights?

Answer 34

Kings began to pay for mercenaries instead of relying on the nobility ## Footnote This reduced the link between social class and military command.

Question 35

True or False: The decline of mounted knights increased the importance of infantry.

Answer 35

True ## Footnote The effectiveness of formations like schiltrons contributed to this shift.

Question 36

Fill in the blank: The schiltron was effective at defeating _______.

Answer 36

cavalry ## Footnote This increased the significance of infantry in battles.