Page 50 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

INTRODUCTION

During the era known in Europe as the Middle During this period, developments in metallurgy improved
Ages, warfare was dominated by the mounted the quality of the steel used for swords and armor. In
warrior—from the armored European knight western Europe, the mounted knight, clad in increasingly
to the steppe horseman. Military technology complex armor, became a central figure in the culture
evolved slowly, and for a long time the bow was of chivalry, as well as a highly effective fighting man.
more influential than new gunpowder weapons. European warfare also repeatedly demonstrated the
effectiveness of disciplined foot soldiers—from the Genoese
Centers of settled civilization were often vulnerable to crossbowmen, to the longbowmen of the English kings,
raids or conquest by marauding warrior tribes: despite to the Swiss with their pikes. The use of gunpowder also
being relatively advanced in terms of both technology and crept into warfare during this era—initially as a peripheral
its government, China was conquered in the 1200s by novelty, valued more for its surprise effect of flashes
the Mongols—steppe nomads using the composite bow. and bangs than for its practical impact. In 15th-century
Religious zeal also proved as important as technological Europe, however, improvements in the construction of
advantages: the foundation of Islam in around 600ce metal cannon, and in the quality of gunpowder, created
inspired an Arab expansionist drive, while from around the potential for a transformation in siege warfare and
1090, militant Christianity inspired crusades to Palestine fortifications. Large guns had made the tall, stone walls
and the retaking of Spain from Muslim rule. These insecure of the medieval castle obsolete by 1500, but it would
times saw the building of castles and other fortifications, take considerably longer for the armored knight to
which then became the object of attack by siege engines. disappear from the battlefield.

KEY DATES
500
The Byzantine general Belisarius
Byzantines use the incendiary
Gunpowder is first used in
Viking sea raiders sack the
Empire in Italy and North Africa
European knights travel
Muslim warrior Saladin
Jerusalem, in the First Crusade
southern China establish
defeats a Crusader army
Franks and Normans
to Palestine and capture
The Song rulers of
warfare, by the Chinese
defending Constantinople
horseback using stirrups
Tiberias, in modern Israel
533 attempts to restore the Roman 672 weapon “Greek fire” while 793 monastery at Lindisfarne, 900 begin to fight on c.1050 1096–99 c.1132 a permanent navy 1187 at the Battle of Hattin, near
northern England
from Arab attack
1066
c.800
732
c.1100
632
955
1206
A century of Arab
Duke of Normandy, defeat the
1156
European heavy cavalry at the
spreads from Asia
the steppe tribes and embarks
defeat a Muslim army near
first used by the Byzantines
conquests begins, extending The Franks, under Charles Martel, The use of the stirrup The Magyars are defeated by The Normans, under William, The counterweight trebuchet is Samurai clans begin Mongol leader, Genghis Khan, unites
Anglo-Saxons at the Battle
as a siege engine
civil wars in Japan
on campaigns of conquest
Battle of Lechfeld, in Germany
to western Europe
of Hastings, in England
from central Asia to Spain
Tours, central France
THE BATTLE OF POITIERS (TOURS)—732 THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS—1066 MONGOLS AT WAR—C.13TH CENTURY