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The Age of Gunpowder
The Age of Gunpowder
Gunpowder research paper
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From approximately the fifteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century, pre-modern Europe witnessed a profound transformation in the art of warfare, which included technological, tactical, strategic, and architectural transformations. However, the single most important military change of the pre-modern era took place with the implementation of gunpowder weaponry in European warfare. Gunpowder weaponry revolutionized naval and land warfare, and military technology and tactics. Additionally, the increased usage of gunpowder weaponry dramatically transformed the size and composition of European armies, and produced significant changes in the design of fortifications and the styles of battles that were fought. Prior to the fifteenth century, …show more content…
Historian Frank Tallett asserts that the firearm’s popularity was “due in part to the endless fascination of rulers” with modern technology, and “in part to [its] superiority over bows in siege warfare.” Additionally, firearms required minimal training in comparison to the pike and longbow. An accomplished gunman could be produced after a few days of continuous training, while “many years and a whole way of life were needed to produce a competent archer.” Thus, the utilization of firearms led to increased manpower within armies, propelled the rise of infantry over cavalry, and paved the way for new tactical strategies and formations, such as the Spanish tercio and Maurice of Nassau’s Dutch battalion. Tallett further notes that handheld firearms could cause complete devastation to mass formations of pikemen. Tallett’s observation was clearly evident at the battles of La Motta (1513), Marignano (1515), and La Bicocca (1522). The battle of La Bicocca, in particular, demonstrated the vulnerability of the Swiss pikemen while highlighting the superiority of the Spanish …show more content…
To begin with, naval warships were specifically designed to sustain heavier artillery; thus, the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries witnessed the introduction of the artillery heavy galleon and frigate. Moreover, technological innovations, such as the gun port and truck carriage, permitted the usage of muzzle-loading cannon below deck. Historian Geoffrey Parker surmises that technological and tactical developments in naval artillery revolutionized naval war strategy from the sixteenth century onwards. Consequently, antiquated methods for destroying enemy vessels, such as ramming and boarding, were replaced by more sophisticated military tactics, which included firing long-range gunpowder weapons from a ship’s
The Civil War, also called The War Between the States, was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. What made the Civil War such a massacre? The Civil War was such a bloodbath because the technological advances were so far superior to the tactics of the infantry, that the weapons virtually obliterated the soldiers. Soldiers would form lines known as a battalions. In these battalions, soldiers would basically march to their deaths. In addition to weapons doing so much damage, fortification on the battlefield was far more advanced than had ever been before. The Cheveau-de-frise was the main focus of armored fortification in the Civil War. This fortification consisted of 10 to 12 foot logs with large spiked-shaped, wooden stakes attached to the top of them. The Cheveau-de-frise would hold soldiers at bay while the opposing soldiers dismantled the battalion with cannons and rifles. Between the fortification and the weapons, humans did not have the slightest chance of survival.1
...new technology and manipulated into a device of warfare and killing. This is a clear example of how Europe’s success was influenced by geographical luck.
The Early Modern Era saw great change in the field of naval technology. Exploration and the desire to expand trade fueled the development of new, more effective naval vessels. These vessels, in turn, contributed to the growth of worldwide trade and interconnection that marked the period.
During the years leading up to and during the American Civil War there were a number of advancements in firearms technology. This paper will focus on a few of those advancements, namely the inventions of the Minié ball, the Spencer and Henry repeating rifles, and of the Gatling gun.
Murray, Williamson R. (1998-08-13). Military Innovation in the Interwar Period (p. 242). Cambridge University Press
Melton, Jack W. and Lawrence E. Pawl. “Basic Facts Concerning Artillery.” Civil War Artillery. 2009. 17 January 2010. .
...hich wooden ships were beginning to be unable to handle. 18 and 24-pounder guns were replaced with 32-pounder guns, and because of the power of the stem-propelled ironclads, 68-pounders were made use of.
Moreover, he concurs with Roberts principles that attain to a replacement of weapons, army sizes, tactics and the implication of warfare on society. However in Parker’s book, The Military Revolution he contributes three revised principles towards Roberts conclusion. First, Parker argues that the innovations of gunpowder weapons forced European states to innovate their fortifications, thereby changing warfare from being fought on land to sieges and being fought for decisive purposes. Second, he asserts that warfare in the early modern period prompted European states to monopolize on the supply effort to recruit soldiers and feed their new armies. Parker’s third principle indicated that naval power; size of fleets, design of ship's, gun weapons and tactics played a pivotal role in the military revolution that allowed Europeans to conquer “35” percent of the world during the early modern
Before beginning about the history of ball bearing or bullet ball guns, which are referred to as BB guns in short, let’s take a quick peep at some of the most interesting facts about air guns:
War has been a recurring part of America’s history for the past hundreds of years. From the 1700s to the present, America has gotten into numerous situations and turmoil, which eventually lead to the wars we currently study and know about today. Technological advancements in warfare were necessary and a great obligation during times of war. This was pursued with drastic improvement. From the transformation of the use of smoothbore muskets during the Civil War to the industrial revolution leading to weaponry innovations post civil war, the nature of warfare dramatically changed. These developments proved to be proficient in battle. In the midst of these hundreds of years, while many technological advances demonstrated to be efficient in battle, the machine gun was one of the most significant advancements in technology that changed the face of warfare through its transformation of operations and strategy.
So how did warfare change before and after the introduction of gunpowder. Based on moral traditions, historical backgrounds, and the economic/social/political effects on society as a whole. Even religious beliefs affected warfare before and after gunpowder. Many Prophets in biblical times didn't promote warfare. Falling to religious practices and morals was the go to. (Hebrew Studies). In many situations tribes and villagers would make peace through trades of goods or cooperation. Keeping this in mind, Morals and values made the use of warfare in general as a bad promotion of action when none is needed. Warfare was not only for defense but aggression.
The next real step in the evolution of the gun came during the Civil War. Rifles were invented that ...
Gunpowder’s effect on the world can be exemplified through the grand changes in weapons. This can be shown through the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 by the English navy. In this sea battle, the Spanish Armada outnumbered the English navy immensely turning the odds against the English. However, the Spanish Armada still used old boarding tactics while the English used advanced weaponry. In the end, “the English used their superior firepower to whittle away the Spanish forces” (Schlager). The English navy's victory over the Spanish Armada illustrates the effects of the invention of gunpowder. With the successful usage of advanced gunpowder based weapons, the English navy crushed the opposition even when the Spanish Armada clearly had the upper hand. The defeat of the Spanish Armada shows that weapons based on gunpowder allowed countries with smaller armies to have a higher chance in winning their fights. The gunpowder weapons proved to be a tactical advant...
These kinds of weapons were impractical for military use, but attracted many people to the arms race for weapons that could sweep the battlefield. “They had limitations in practice, among them slow re...
Science and technology in the middle ages flourished because of the need of inventions to make life easier. In Europe, from the 5th century to the 16th century there was a radical change in the inventions made. It was between the fall of the Western Roman empire and the early modern era. This was a time for exploration in new ideas and ways of doing things. Europe invented many things for wars, time-keeping, and for everyday use. These inventions may be still used today. They range from huge mortar to a small set of eyeglasses. Europeans found that life was easier with new better inventions to help them in everything. There are a series of inventions about war because of nearby wars with neighboring civilizations or even within Europe.