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Posted: October 18th, 2023
How the Middle Ages’ Art of War Was Affected by the Development of Gunpowder
How the Middle Ages’ Art of War Was Affected by the Development of Gunpowder
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Gunpowder is considered the most important military invention of the medieval period. With the advent of gunpowder in Europe, the nature of warfare changed radically and this had a deep impact on the social and political outlook of late medieval Europe. This paper will examine how gunpowder affected the art of war in the Middle Ages, focusing on its origins, diffusion, and applications.
Gunpowder originated in China, where it was first used for battle in about 900 A.D. . Gunpowder spread throughout Eurasia by the end of the 13th century, eventually revolutionizing warfare as a propellant in firearms and artillery . Meanwhile, master gunners tinkered with gunpowder formulas, trying to find the ideal concoction . The world’s earliest known hand cannon is the Heilongjiang hand cannon dated 1288, which was found in Mongol-held Manchuria .
Gunpowder reached Europe through the Mongol invasions and trade routes. The earliest European cannon, the pot-de-fer, had a bulbous, vase-like shape, and was used more for psychological effect than physical damage . The later culverin was transitional between the handgun and the full cannon, and was used as an anti-personnel weapon . English cannons first appeared in 1327, and later saw more general use during the Hundred Years’ War, when primitive cannons were employed at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 . By the end of the 14th century, the use of cannons was also recorded as being used by the Swedes, Poles, Russians, Byzantines and Ottomans .
Gunpowder had a profound influence on the art of war in the Middle Ages. It enabled new siege tactics, such as breaching walls and towers with bombardment . It also challenged the dominance of cavalry and fortified castles, which had been the main elements of medieval warfare . Gunpowder weapons required new skills and strategies, such as aiming, loading, firing, and maneuvering . Although it was often used in cannons and guns, many attempted to create other methods of using it to defeat their enemies in battle, such as an exploding barrel . The use of gunpowder during this period, however, could be treacherous. It was prone to accidents, misfires, explosions, and sabotage .
In conclusion, gunpowder was a game-changing invention that transformed the art of war in the Middle Ages. It originated in China and spread to Europe and other regions through various channels. It introduced new weapons and tactics that altered the balance of power and the nature of warfare. It also posed new challenges and risks for those who used it or faced it on the battlefield.
References
: Ritchie et al., “Evolution of Medieval Gunpowder: Thermodynamic and Combustion Analysis,” ACS Omega (2021), https://www.medievalists.net/2021/09/how-gunpowder-changed-in-the-middle-ages/
: “Gunpowder artillery in the Middle Ages,” Wikipedia (2021), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_artillery_in_the_Middle_Ages
: “Gunpowder *Medieval Inventions,” Medieval Chronicles (2021), https://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-history/medieval-inventions-list/gunpowder/
: “The Art of War- Gunpowder,” Penn Digital Scholarship (2021), https://www.pennds.org/medievalwarandconquest/exhibits/show/artofwar/gunpowder