“a terrible worm in an iron cocoon”: war in medieval & renaissance europe prof. christopher...
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“A Terrible Worm in an Iron Cocoon”: War in Medieval & Renaissance Europe
Prof. Christopher CarlsmithWestern Civilization
12 May 2008
Comparing Past and Present
• For each of the military conflicts listed, discuss in pairs:– Did offensive or defensive
forces hold the advantage?– What new military
technology (if any) changed the balance of power?
• Iraq War / Gulf War (2003-present, 1991-92)
• WW I (1914-18) / WWII (1941-1945)
• Amer. Rev. (1776-83)
• Medieval/Renaiss. wars (14th-16th c.)
Agenda
• Preface• Comparing warfare, past and present
• Introduction• Areas of change• Offense vs. Defense
• Medieval Warfare• Equipment: Castles, cavalry, crossbow, trebuchet• Strategy
• Renaissance Warfare• Revisiting the Classical World• Gunpowder: The Big Bang• Cannon, musket, mortar• Fortifications
Art of War: a “revolution”?
• “Renaissance war”• Leonardo• Michelangelo• Machiavelli
• Areas of change
• Offense vs. Defense?• 14th c. = D.• 15th c. = O.• 16th c. = D.
Medieval Warfare
• Cavalry– Dominates until 1370s– Equiv. to modern tank– “terrible worm in an
iron cocoon”– Chivalry & nobility
rules– Multiple attendants
(how many “lances”?)– Ex: Knights Templar
Medieval Warfare
• Crossbow– Slow, awkward, but
devastating force– Banned by RCC in 1139– Imp’t till 14th c.
• Longbow– Introduced in 100 Yrs. War
by English– 12 arrows/min, 300 yd.
range
Medieval Warfare
xenophongroup.com/montjoie/ ngp_arty.htm
Medieval Warfare
• Strategy– Joint use of forces
(archers, cavalry, etc)– Limited by weather &
distance– Divided leadership is
common– Pillage is common,
both during & after
Renaissance Warfare: Looking to the Classical World
Roman soldiers battering a door, from Roberto Valturio (ca. 1550)
Renaissance Warfare: Looking to the Classical World
Guido delle Colonne, History, Siege, and Destruction of Troy (1513)
Gunpowder
• Origins• From Asia• Carbon, saltpeter,
sulphur
• Criticism• 1467, 1497
• Praise• See next
Fortifications
• Better artillery better fortifications
• Medieval towers cut down, transformed into “bastions” and gun platforms
• “The most significant architectural form during the Renaiss. was the angle bastion; it revolutionized patterns of warfare.” (John Hale)