During the 16th century England and much
of Europe found itself in turmoil and in a constant state of war.
The outbreak of fighting led to the invention and development of new weapons
and the growth and change of weapons of old. The development of weapons
was a trademark of the time, with a sort of renaissance, or re-birth in
the field of weaponry (Miller). The technology was highlighted by
the invention of gunpowder by the Chinese which eventually found its way
to England (Grolier). However, the use of gunpowder was minimal,
because the use of had yet to be perfected. The technological advancement
most useful during the period was progression of the metals used in weaponry.
The new forms could be found in the production of swords, arrows, cannons,
and armor, as well as varies siege weapons.
The three major categories of weapons
used during the 16th century were handheld, siege, and missiles.
The primary use of handheld weapons is for the obvious is hand to hand
combat in close quarters. Handheld weapons were not always the most
efficient weapons but played a major role in battle because of their simplicity.
An entire army would depend on the use of foot soldiers and simply outnumber
their opponent while fighting in the trenches (Grolier). Siege weapons
were effective not on battles on an open area, but rather when one army
would attack the fortress or castle of the other army. The siege
weapons were used to either knock the gate at the entrance of the castle,
or other wise gain entry, or to hurl large objects or arrows over the defensive
walls around the perimeter of the castle. Fire was another common
tactic used with siege of castles, as well as the use of the newly found
gunpowder (Revell, “Missile”). The third type of weapons are missile
weapons, which came to be the signature of the time period. The missile
weapons were fired or projected from a distance and were found effective
due to their range, but accuracy became important and so did the skill
involved in warfare.
Handheld weapons represented a large portion
of the weapons used during 16th Century warfare (Iannuzzo). Most
commonly used was the sword. Throughout the middles ages, metals
were developed to withstand more abuse and thus became more effective (Iannuzzo).
The metals now had to strong enough to pierce through the newly developed
armor of the time (Revell, “Armour”). The use of carbonized iron,
which was heated, beaten, and cut the process repeated many times over
to form a solid and durable and lighter than previous swords. The
double edge sword was far superior in strength and sharpness of the other
swords of the time (Grolier). The 16th century also brought forth
the use of flamberge sword that had an undulating cutting edge, that was
believed to be able to easily pierce the armor, but was too awkward for
battle and was eventually abandoned. By this time the Great sword,
sometimes over six feet in length, were being deployed. This sword
was deadly only because of the pure size of it. The great swords
required enormous strength just to hold and even more to be effective.
Eventually the great sword became too awkward to use in battle just as
the flamberge. These two inferior swords took a back seat to the
smaller and more agile estoc sword. The estoc had a narrow triangular
blade that was used to pierce the joints in the armor, rather than slash
through it. But the progression in the strength of these swords made
it able for the estocs to be strong enough to pierce through entire plates
of the armour (Revell, “Armour”). This more effective sword led to
a revolution in the art of sword fighting, because now a soldier must be
able to beat an opponent with speed and quickness, rather than raw strength.
The second type of handheld weapon that
made an impact during the 16th century, were maces. The mace was
as a secondary weapon that was used after the initial charge, where swords
were the primary weapon (Iannuzzo). Maces were heavy lead balls attached
to a chain, which was attached to the metal handle that the warrior would
hold. They were small and quick enough to crush a man?s skull (Revell,
“Armour”). Early maces that were smooth were found to slide off the
armor and not cause much damage. This lead to the elaboration of
putting metal spikes on the ball that would be able to puncture the armor
and cause injury to the opponent. The mace was also used by medieval
knights, who would hang them by their side and use them when they were
too close to use their swords or they had lost it. It was also a
weapon used heavily by churchmen while defending their church (Rowse).
The last type of handheld weapon were the pole arms that were primarily
used to guard other weapons while they were loading (Revell, “Armour”).
Siege weapons were the vital weapons when
an army needed to attack their opponents? stronghold. The two types
of siege weapons were catapults and ballistae, with catapults being the
predecessor (Iannuzzo). The catapults would heave large objects over
the enemies? walls and varied in size, from small for one or two soldiers
to operate and to large, which required up to ten people to operate.
The catapults would use large objects such as boulders, firepots, and dead
animals as ammunition. The boulders would cause damages from impact,
the firepots would start fires, and the dead animals would spread diseases
inside the town or castle into which it was thrown (Revell, “Missile”).
Ballistaes were gigantic cross bows that were capable of firing multiple
arrows at a single time, as well as firing arrows with multiple heads.
These arrows were much greater in size than those of the common bow and
arrows, which were carried by a single soldier. The ballistae weapons
were more complex than the catapults, and were required to be built prior
to battle, due to their complex configuration. In addition it took
many men to move them, but their effectiveness was well worth the extra
manpower that was used for the transportation.
The missile type of weapons was commonly
used and was very effective because they could be fired from afar.
The bow and arrow was effective but slow in firing at opponents.
The arrows were fired high into the air and would then come down with greater
force then if they were fired straight at the enemy. The arrows were
placed in the bow and pulled back against the tension and then release,
thus propelling the arrow with great momentum in the direction they were
aimed (Revell, “Missile”). The crossbows on the other hand were horizontal
and would be drawn back and latched. The arrow was then released
by pulling a trigger (Brigatta). The next weapon used the relatively
new, at least to England, gunpowder. The discovery of gun powder
by the Chinese lead to the development of the matchlock musket. The
musket was small enough to fit under the arm of the soldier. The
gun consisted of a wood base and a barrel made of lead strips held close
by spirals and welded together (Brigatta). The arquebus was a matchlock
weapon that used a trigger for the first and was found to be effective.
This replaced the lever action and now made the matchlock easier to hold
steady while aiming and firing (Revell, “Missile”). The use of gunpowder
made the armies of the 16th century more dependent on supply trains and
more powerful while attack strongholds (Grolier). The cannons then
became the primary use of gunpowder, because of their effective use and
rather simple mechanics. In 1543 England made the first single-cast
iron cannon and ensured England as a dominant producer of military supplies
(Iannuzzo).
The 16th century was a time when the weapons
of warfare took on a rebirth and the force of the armies greatly increased.
The handheld weapon alone became quicker and easier to manage and thus
deadlier then ever. This was through the development of the shape,
size, and texture of the swords and mace. The siege weapons also
became so effective that the castles were no loner effective enough to
stop the onslaught brought on by the catapults and ballistae. Both
of these weapons were so effective that new architectural designs were
needed for the castles. The missile weapons most likely had the greatest
evolution, from the somewhat primitive design of bow and arrows to the
rather modern introduction of the matchlock musket. The advances
in weaponry were a gigantic step into the direction weapon technology we
see today.
Другие работы по теме:
Reading And Comprehension Essay Research Paper Reading
Reading And Comprehension Essay, Research Paper Reading and Comprehending English is a strong complex language. It can be very difficult to read and comprehend. To ask one, who s first language is not English they would tell you that English is painstakingly hard to understand. That is why people need to learn to read and understand what they read.
MY 16TH BDAY Essay Research Paper A
MY 16TH B-DAY Essay, Research Paper A good experience with my friends came on my sixteenth birthday. Earlier in the week, I had decided that I would rent a limousine and go into Boston with some of my friends. The day which we would go was my birthday. The day had finally come and we were all anxious to go. Before the limo came, five of my friends: Nick, John, Luke, Eric and Jay met at my house.
Nuclear Weapons Essay Research Paper Even though
Nuclear Weapons Essay, Research Paper Even though the United States and Russia have just concluded the most far-reaching nuclear arms reduction treaty in history, the danger that nuclear weapons will actually be used is growing rather than declining. George Bush and Boris Yeltsin’s START II accord does represent an important step in winding down the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race (Fromuth, 1993).
Knights Essay Research Paper Knights were professional
Knights Essay, Research Paper Knights were professional soldiers, They had the best weapons, and they rode on the best horses. Most knights went around looking for work, to fight, they liked to fight. Sometimes when a war would be about to happen, the country would need all the knights they could get. By the 11th century, knights were getting nobler, and they were getting better all the time.
English Class 009 Essay Research Paper I
English Class 009 Essay, Research Paper I am taking English 009 to benefit me in the future. It gives me the skills I need to succeed. I would be able to write a paper; because of the writing skills I have learned in English 009. From studying hard, my grammar could be improved. I would be offered a teaching position as a substitute teacher for English because of my experience in English 009.
British Colonization Essay Research Paper There were
British Colonization Essay, Research Paper There were three different types of English colonies bosed on who owned the colony came fom the king through a charter. All charters have certain requirements. Taxes must be collected, and the laws of a colony may not contradict those of individual. Maryland was an ecample of a proprietary colony. corporate colonies were wned by a group of investors and run through a coprpration.
Trombones Essay Research Paper The trombone appeared
Trombones Essay, Research Paper The trombone appeared after the mid-15th century, evidently as an advance on the Renaissance slide trumpet, and was possibly first produced by Flemish makers who supplied wind instruments to the court of Burgundy. Virdung’s Musica getutsht (1511) includes a woodcut of a trombone that closely resembles the earliest surviving instruments – tenor trombones by Erasmus Schnitzer (1551; now in Nuremberg, Germanishes National museum) and Jorg Neuschel (1557; formerly in the Galpin Collection, now owned by Ren Clemencic, Vienna).
Beowulf Essay Research Paper Beowulf written in
Beowulf Essay, Research Paper Beowulf ,written in Old English sometime before the tenth century AD, describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian warrior of the sixth century. Beowulf tells the reader a lot about the time in which it was written. Heroes show what the society as a whole values. By looking at Beowulf we can tell what the tenth century AD Anglo-Saxons valued.
A 16Th Century Map Of The Worl
Essay, Research Paper A 16th Century Map of the World In James Cowan s A Mapmaker s Dream, a 16th century roman monk vicariously travels the world without actually leaving the confines of his monastery. The monk, named Fra Mauro, learns of the world through stories told by a variety of travelers. With his newly acquired perception of the world, Fra sets out to chart the lands that were, at that time, still being discovered.
Gun Control 2 Essay Research Paper We
Gun Control 2 Essay, Research Paper We the students of class 7-508 do not agree with the statement that people should carry weapons. We do not agree with this statement
Emergence Of The Nuclear Age Essay Research
Paper Emergence of the Nuclear Age I feel the most important issue which I learned in class was of the emergence of the nuclear age. I feel that this is important due to the fact
Nuclear Weapons Essay Research Paper The topic
Nuclear Weapons Essay, Research Paper The topic of nuclear weapons is one that will be around forever. One of my favorite lines from the reading we had was that we cannot uninvent nuclear
Plutonium Essay Research Paper Plutonium239 an isotope
Plutonium Essay, Research Paper Plutonium-239 (an isotope of plutonium) is used in making nuclear weapons. Plutonium- 238 is used to power equipment on the moon by means of the heat it emits. Plutonium is also used in radionuclide batteries for pacemakers.
William Blake Essay Research Paper This week
William Blake Essay, Research Paper This week I was scheduled to work with Irene Balli. She is one of dining services main managers. She mostly oversees all of the banquets that go on here at Marywood. On the 16th of April was the Cor Marie, which is a very large banquet that consists of all major heads of all departments at Marywood.
Grant Wood Essay Research Paper During the
Grant Wood Essay, Research Paper During the 1930’s, this American regionalist pianter was in his prime. Grant Wood was born on the day Febuary 13 , 1891 in Anomosa, Iowa. He won much acclaim including both critical and popular for his element. During his four visits to Europe in the late 1920’s Wood was strongly influenced by the work of 16th century flenish painters such as the Van Eyck brothers.
Government And Morality In 20Th Century America
Essay, Research Paper Government and Morality in 20th Century America On July 4, 1776, a general congress of the English colonies of the Americas assembled in Philadelphia and combined their experience, education, and frustration to compose the Declaration of Independence. This document, which even today tells the story of how our country was started, speaks of the religious and moral persecution that our forefathers were forced to bear for years upon years.
Legend Of Faust Essay Research Paper The
Legend Of Faust Essay, Research Paper The Legend of Faust In this paper I will be writing about the legend of Faust which gained recognition back in the 16th century by numerous authors.
Treasure Island Essay Research Paper Kyle FloydApril
Treasure Island Essay, Research Paper Kyle FloydApril 1, 1999CP English IVMs. WadePirates of Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson s Treasure Island is a suspenseful, action-packed story in which he uses the stereotypical image of pirates to captivate his audiences. The pirates in Treasure Island greatly resemble that of 16th century pirates.
Why Do People Want To Destroy Images
? Essay, Research Paper Religion Puritanism 16th and 17th centuries ? dispute over terms of the Settlement which banned artificial worship but did not specify decoration such as church windows and crosses in
Expansionism Essay Research Paper In a sense
Expansionism Essay, Research Paper In a sense, The United States has been “expansionistic” from its very beginning. The 13 English colonies, clinging to the eastern seaboard, were determined to push westward despite all natural and political obstacles. Once established as a nation, the United States went about acquiring even more land, including Florida, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Mexican Cession.
Metric System Essay Research Paper Metric SystemThe
Metric System Essay, Research Paper Metric System The Metric System, also known as the System Internationale (SI) was developed in France in 1799. The Metric System was created because the French and English were not in agreement politically, therefore the French did not want anything to do with the English including their system of measurements.
Calvin John Biography Essay Research Paper CALVIN
Calvin John Biography Essay, Research Paper CALVIN JOHN (1509-64). When John Calvin was a boy in France, Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation in Germany. Two decades later Calvin became the second of the great 16th-century reformers. His work and teachings had a profound impact on the development of Christianity.
EBONICS Essay Research Paper FOR AGES AFRICAN
EBONICS Essay, Research Paper FOR AGES AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE BEE MANIPULATING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE ACCEPTED BOTH THROUGH LITERATURE AND VERBAL SPEAKING. IN THE 21ST CENTURY THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS FACED WITH A TASK OF REFORMING A LANGUAGE SUPPOSIDLY CALL “BLACK ENGLISH” OR “EBONY PHONICS,” DEPICTING WHAT IS WIDELY KNOWN AS EBONICS.
Summary And Responce To
“Black English” Essay, Research Paper Summary and Response Word Count 366 Summary In the essay titled, ?If Black English Isn?t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is??
Golf Essay Research Paper Golf report in
Golf Essay, Research Paper Golf report in English Golf as we know it today was orginated in Scottland in 1421. It started off by players hitting a pebble around a natural course of sand dunes, rabbit runs and tracks using a club. Historians have came to believe that Kolven from Holland and Chole from Belgium influenced the game.
The English Language Essay Research Paper This
The English Language Essay, Research Paper This House affirms that the British Empire was a great success whose effects are still beneficial to the world. The world distribution of English users is divided into three categories : English as a native language; for example, UK, USA, Australia, English as a second language; for example, India, Singapore, Ghana, Philippines, and English as a foreign language; for example, France, Japan, Thailand.There are 72 countries with Englishs as an official language and 9 countries with English as a first language:Australia, Great- Britain, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourgh, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the USA.
What Is English Essay Research Paper English
What Is English? Essay, Research Paper English, well what is English? We all know that it is a language. But, what is the study of english? It is the study of literature in the english language. People attend english classes. This may be to learn the English Language or to learn about english literature or writing.