Late Medieval Warfare
Targets
• Identify and describe the changes in
warfare during the late Medieval period.
• Compare the tactics, logistics, and
strategy of the French, English, and
Mongol military models.
Logistical Changes
• Improved agricultural
methods
• More food = larger
populations
• Bigger armies
• Better transportation
Transportation
• Horseshoe
• Horses less likely to be injured
• Horse collar
• Horse pulls with shoulder rather than neck
• Pulls heavier loads
• Tandem harness
• Teams of 2-4-6 horses
• Heavier, deeper, wider wagons
• Better logistics
Mercenaries
• Soldiers who fight for
money
• Professional
• Lacked organization,
a chain of command
• No established size
• No “espirit de corps”
• Not fighting for a
cause
Weapons changes
• 1. longbow
• 2. gunpowder
• 3. Plate Armor
Plate Armor
• Strengthen the chain mail
• 70lbs
• Armor for horse
• Knight is more dangerous
• Arms race between armor
and arms
• Development of armor
“defeating” weapons
• clip
Pole-Axe (50 sec)
Swords (4 min 20 sec)
Sword vs. Helmet (1 min 28)
Armor Mobility? (1 min 10 sec)
Deadly Medieval Weapons (2 min 25 sec)
English Model
• Adapt and utilize various
tactics and weapons
• Constant attacks in Wales
• Castle building, siege
warfare
• Combined arms army
• Relied heavily on archers
• Shielded the heavy infantry
• Only used heavy cavalry
when situation favors them
• Longbow was key weapon
Longbow
French Model
• Complete focus on Heavy
Calvary
• Contempt for archer and light
infantry
• Foot soldier = social inferior
• Tactics evolve around
knightly combat
• Code of Chivalry
• Honor, fair fights
• Frontal attack
• Used mercenary
crossbowman from Italy
Crossbow
Composite Crossbow
