The Hundred Years War

The Hundred Years War (1337-1453)  

Series of wars between France and England intermittently separated by periods of uneasy peace 

Warfare  

Warfare changed during The Hundred Years War. The traditional medieval warfare was no longer enough. Military tactics were changed, the types of weapons used, and the very meaning of the what war meant. The fact that the population of France was about 5 times larger than England's plays a significance in how long this lasted. England was more unified than France, having a better financial system. They used a paid army for foreign services rather than a feudal army.

-Weapons  

The most famous weapon used by England was the Welsh or the longbow. The French mainly used the crossbow manned by Genoese men. The crossbowused little training and skill to operate but it was easily prone to damage and lacked accuracy. The longbow took years of training and a lifetime to master it. Along with the training, it took a lot of strength to use, around one hundred pounds. to draw. This weapon helped the outnumbered English army pick battle locations, fortify, and destroy opposing armies. Many new weapons were introduced during the war; Gunpowder, firearms, cannons, the longsword, and new armor including plate armor. 

The Longbow were invented by the Celts in Wales around 1180 C.E. It was not used in the Military until the 1300's. The longbow is a strong piece of wood about 6 feet tall and 6 inches wide. The weight in order to draw back is about 200 pounds. 

Gun Powder was first invented in China. It is composed of nitrate salt, sulfur, and carbonaceous matter. The utility of gunpowder lies in the ability to accelerate a projectile by the explosive expansion of gas. 

 The Crossbow dates back to 600BC in Ancient China. It was reintroduced to England in 1066. The range is about 350 to 400 yards with each shot at a rate of 2 bolts per minute. The bow was made of iron, wood, or steal. The string of the crossbow was made from hemp. 

Sources:

http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/west/10/FC73
http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/eu11.htm
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Hundred_Years'_War
http://deremilitari.org/2013/05/syllabus-warfare-and-medieval-society-the-hundred-years-war-seminar-kowaleski/