Time Period: Topic:
1500-1700 Changes in the of the army
Composition:
- Armies were still a mix of cavalry, infantry and artillery, supported by pioneers
(labourers and engineers) and baggage train.
- The ratio of cavalry and infantry was approximately 1 : 3, but this was not a pattern.
- Most generals preferred twice as many infantry to cavalry if possible.
- Artillery trains increased slowly in size and the field artillery (i.e cannons) improved.
- Armies became more professional.
- Changes arose as training was needed for new weapons.
Battlefield roles:
Cavalry:
- no longer the decisive force in battle
- Continued its specialist role
- Harassed the enemy with pistols and skirmished(small fights) with enemy cavalry.
- The mounted charge was not used often.
- Dragoons took on the role of the mounted archer until 1700.
Infantry:
- became dominant
- Was divided into two key roles:
- Musketeers (replacing archers)
- Armoured pikemen (fought in large, disciplined groups)
The Role of Government:
Rulers increasingly used taxes to pay for hiring soldiers.
Standing Armies:
● A standing army is a permanent force of full-time, professional soldiers.
● They gave rulers a lot of power and ensured that troops were well trained.
● They were very expensive.
● During the civil war, Parliament set up a standing army to fight the king.
Strategy and tactics:
- Pikemen could stop a cavalry charge but were easy targets.
- Pikemen and musketeers acted together to be effective.
- Under cavalry attack, pikemen formed a square around the musketeers.
- By 1600, squares were replaced by lines of musketeers that provided a volley of fire.
1
, Time Period: Topic:
1500 - 1700 Developments in weaponry
Muskets:
● By 1550, the musket began replacing the longbow.
● They were slow and unwieldy.
● King Henry VIII received a battle report outlining the success
of German muskets against pikemen which was previously
unbeatable in European Warfare.
● Armour could be pierced by muskets.
● Mass production of bullets meant they were able to issue to
any soldier.
● Storing was much easier compared to store arrows, which
were expensive and highly crafted.
● Also the growth of towns and changes in farming methods
reduced the number of archers able to train.
Pistols and dragoons:
● In the 1540s, the wheel-lock pistol was developed — it was
a smaller firearm, suitable for use by cavalry.
● They and the swords replaced the lances of mediaeval
knights and Armour was gradually abandoned.
● Cavalry rode close to the enemy, firing in complex
manoeuvres before withdrawing to reload.
● Dragoons armed with arquebuses or smaller muskets were
used to skirmish and threaten an enemy’s flank.
↑Arquebuse ↑Wheel-lock pistol
2
1500-1700 Changes in the of the army
Composition:
- Armies were still a mix of cavalry, infantry and artillery, supported by pioneers
(labourers and engineers) and baggage train.
- The ratio of cavalry and infantry was approximately 1 : 3, but this was not a pattern.
- Most generals preferred twice as many infantry to cavalry if possible.
- Artillery trains increased slowly in size and the field artillery (i.e cannons) improved.
- Armies became more professional.
- Changes arose as training was needed for new weapons.
Battlefield roles:
Cavalry:
- no longer the decisive force in battle
- Continued its specialist role
- Harassed the enemy with pistols and skirmished(small fights) with enemy cavalry.
- The mounted charge was not used often.
- Dragoons took on the role of the mounted archer until 1700.
Infantry:
- became dominant
- Was divided into two key roles:
- Musketeers (replacing archers)
- Armoured pikemen (fought in large, disciplined groups)
The Role of Government:
Rulers increasingly used taxes to pay for hiring soldiers.
Standing Armies:
● A standing army is a permanent force of full-time, professional soldiers.
● They gave rulers a lot of power and ensured that troops were well trained.
● They were very expensive.
● During the civil war, Parliament set up a standing army to fight the king.
Strategy and tactics:
- Pikemen could stop a cavalry charge but were easy targets.
- Pikemen and musketeers acted together to be effective.
- Under cavalry attack, pikemen formed a square around the musketeers.
- By 1600, squares were replaced by lines of musketeers that provided a volley of fire.
1
, Time Period: Topic:
1500 - 1700 Developments in weaponry
Muskets:
● By 1550, the musket began replacing the longbow.
● They were slow and unwieldy.
● King Henry VIII received a battle report outlining the success
of German muskets against pikemen which was previously
unbeatable in European Warfare.
● Armour could be pierced by muskets.
● Mass production of bullets meant they were able to issue to
any soldier.
● Storing was much easier compared to store arrows, which
were expensive and highly crafted.
● Also the growth of towns and changes in farming methods
reduced the number of archers able to train.
Pistols and dragoons:
● In the 1540s, the wheel-lock pistol was developed — it was
a smaller firearm, suitable for use by cavalry.
● They and the swords replaced the lances of mediaeval
knights and Armour was gradually abandoned.
● Cavalry rode close to the enemy, firing in complex
manoeuvres before withdrawing to reload.
● Dragoons armed with arquebuses or smaller muskets were
used to skirmish and threaten an enemy’s flank.
↑Arquebuse ↑Wheel-lock pistol
2
