Medieval Weapons and War Tactics Austin Golden 6 th period 11-4-08.

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Medieval Weapons and Medieval Weapons and War Tactics War Tactics Austin Golden Austin Golden 6 6 th th period period 11-4-08 11-4-08

description

Weapons The Sword The Sword - highly symbolic - made holy by the church - “swords of war”- swords with blades 35 inches or longer. - used by knights on horseback - nobleman, officers of state, and members of important guilds had swords of greater length carried in front of them. This was a sign of their high status.

Transcript of Medieval Weapons and War Tactics Austin Golden 6 th period 11-4-08.

Page 1: Medieval Weapons and War Tactics Austin Golden 6 th period 11-4-08.

Medieval Weapons and Medieval Weapons and War TacticsWar Tactics

Austin GoldenAustin Golden66thth period period11-4-0811-4-08

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WeaponsWeaponsCrossbowCrossbow Operated by a single soldierOperated by a single soldier Slow rate of fireSlow rate of fire Operator is vulnerableOperator is vulnerableLongbowLongbow Originally a hunting weaponOriginally a hunting weapon Six feet in lengthSix feet in length Greater fire than the crossbow Greater fire than the crossbow Up to six arrows per minute Up to six arrows per minute Operator is also vulnerable to enemy attackOperator is also vulnerable to enemy attack

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WeaponsWeapons The SwordThe Sword

- highly symbolic- highly symbolic- made holy by the church- made holy by the church- “swords of war”- swords with blades - “swords of war”- swords with blades 35 inches or longer.35 inches or longer.- used by knights on horseback- used by knights on horseback- nobleman, officers of state, and members - nobleman, officers of state, and members of important guilds had swords of greater of important guilds had swords of greater length carried in front of them. This was a length carried in front of them. This was a sign of their high status.sign of their high status.

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WeaponsWeapons MaceMace

- used to smash a knight’s armor- used to smash a knight’s armor- a hit to the head- the victim is - a hit to the head- the victim is stunned or killedstunned or killed- simple mace- could be made by - simple mace- could be made by driving nails into a clubdriving nails into a club- this cheap weapon became - this cheap weapon became popular among the peasants popular among the peasants of Europe.of Europe.

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WeaponsWeapons The KnifeThe Knife

- - civilians carried a knife everywhere civilians carried a knife everywhere they went, even womenthey went, even women- if you ate somewhere outside your- if you ate somewhere outside your home, your were expected to bring your own knife. home, your were expected to bring your own knife. - violence was the accepted method of - violence was the accepted method of solving problemssolving problems- people took insults to their honor very- people took insults to their honor veryseriouslyseriously- if there was a dispute, out came the knife to stab- if there was a dispute, out came the knife to stab

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Siege WeaponsSiege Weapons TrebuchetTrebuchet

- used commonly when laying siege on a - used commonly when laying siege on a castle.castle.- could destroy a castle and castle breach - could destroy a castle and castle breach was almost assured. was almost assured. - limited ways of countering this - limited ways of countering this weaponweapon- launches objects that would- launches objects that would

penetrate and shatter penetrate and shatter castle walls. castle walls.

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Siege WeaponsSiege Weapons BallistaBallista

- - used in laying siege on a castleused in laying siege on a castle or fortress.or fortress.- sends forth a spear- sends forth a spear- could cause the scattering of forces - could cause the scattering of forces inside and outside the castleinside and outside the castle- this made a breach of the- this made a breach of the castle even easiercastle even easier

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War TacticsWar Tactics►Foot SoldiersFoot Soldiers

- During the fourteenth century, foot soldiers and - During the fourteenth century, foot soldiers and archers greatly outnumbered knights.archers greatly outnumbered knights.- carried sword and dagger- carried sword and dagger- effective weapon was known - effective weapon was known as the pike, poleaxe, or as the pike, poleaxe, or the halberd. the halberd. -This was a weapon made from-This was a weapon made from

the combination of the combination of a spear and axe.a spear and axe.

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War TacticsWar Tactics►ArchersArchers

- knights feared archers most- knights feared archers most- the longbow was the deadly weapon - the longbow was the deadly weapon archers usedarchers used- at short range this bow and arrow - at short range this bow and arrow could penetrate plate armor.could penetrate plate armor.- arrows were carried in a quiver on the hip.- arrows were carried in a quiver on the hip.- if knights charged, archers behind a protective - if knights charged, archers behind a protective shield, would wait until knights were in range. shield, would wait until knights were in range.

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War TacticsWar Tactics►Before a BattleBefore a Battle

- surprise was crucial- surprise was crucial- spies may have been reporting information - spies may have been reporting information for weeks or even months before the war.for weeks or even months before the war.- position was also crucial- position was also crucial- if a force was positioned on a hill, then the - if a force was positioned on a hill, then the enemy would have to attack up a slope.enemy would have to attack up a slope.- if a force was positioned in a wooded area, - if a force was positioned in a wooded area, they might be able to hide troops until the they might be able to hide troops until the troops were required. troops were required.

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War TacticsWar Tactics►Before a BattleBefore a Battle

- before a battle, opposing armies might camp - before a battle, opposing armies might camp quite close to each other. quite close to each other. - devices known as caltrops were spread over - devices known as caltrops were spread over the ground the enemy would charge on.the ground the enemy would charge on.- caltrops were made of metal and had four - caltrops were made of metal and had four sharp, pointed prongs sticking out in different sharp, pointed prongs sticking out in different directions. directions. - these devices would be thrown down and could - these devices would be thrown down and could cause injury if trampled over by a man or horse. cause injury if trampled over by a man or horse.

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War TacticsWar Tactics►Before a BattleBefore a Battle

- Nobles would meet to discuss their - Nobles would meet to discuss their battle plans.battle plans.- also, before a battle, a commander might - also, before a battle, a commander might send his herald, or messenger, to the enemy send his herald, or messenger, to the enemy camp to offer peace terms.camp to offer peace terms.- Right before battle, if there was time, a priest - Right before battle, if there was time, a priest would say prayers and troops would cross would say prayers and troops would cross themselves. themselves. - The king or commanding noble would also - The king or commanding noble would also give an inspiring speech before the soldiers go give an inspiring speech before the soldiers go off to battle.off to battle.

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War TacticsWar Tactics► Tactics During BattleTactics During Battle

- tactics were often influenced - tactics were often influenced by traditionby tradition- men of the same rank - men of the same rank fought one another.fought one another.- knights would fight one - knights would fight one another and foot soldiers another and foot soldiers would fight one anotherwould fight one another- defending the standard, or flag, was important. - defending the standard, or flag, was important. - the standard was a rallying point for troops- the standard was a rallying point for troops- to lose the standard was a disgrace and would - to lose the standard was a disgrace and would indicate that the enemy was winning.indicate that the enemy was winning.

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War TacticsWar Tactics►After a BattleAfter a Battle

- victorious foot soldiers would kill enemy - victorious foot soldiers would kill enemy troops lying on the ground injured or dyingtroops lying on the ground injured or dying- their own injured would be carried off on - their own injured would be carried off on shields used as stretchers.shields used as stretchers.- knights captured by their enemies spent - knights captured by their enemies spent months or even years in prison until their months or even years in prison until their families paid for their release.families paid for their release.- prisoners of war were treated with civility- prisoners of war were treated with civility

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BibliographiesBibliographies-Book I-Book I

Meltzer, Milton. Weapons and Warfare. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1996.

-Book IIHilliam, Paul. Medieval Weapons and Warfare. First. new York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2004.

-Internet Source I The Battlefield: Tactics and Weapons.World Eras. Ed. Jeremiah Hackett. Vol. 4: Medieval Europe, 814-1350. Detroit: Gale Group, 2002. p209-211

-Internet Source IIBenjamin, Garfield. "Threat of Medieval Siege Weapons." Medieval Enthusiasts #1 Resource for Medieval Warfare. 2004. 4 Nov 2008 <http://www.medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com/medieval-siege-weapons.html>.