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Gunpowder become more widely available at the end of the 14th Century.

Britain: Warfare Between AD 1350 and 1700

Explore how warfare in Britain changed between 1350 and 1700, from armoured knights and longbowmen to gunpowder weapons, new tactics, and powerful early modern states.

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Fascinating Fact:

Battles such as Agincourt (1415) showed how disciplined infantry and longbowmen could defeat larger forces of mounted knights.

In GCSE History, the topic “Britain: Warfare between AD 1350 and AD 1700” explores how English kings and their rivals fought for power using longbows, pike-and-shot tactics, early cannon, and stronger central governments.

Key Terms

Longbowman: A trained archer using a powerful longbow, especially important in English victories such as Crécy and Agincourt.
Gunpowder: An explosive mixture used in cannons and firearms, which gradually reduced the importance of heavily armoured knights and stone walls.
Pike-and-shot: A formation that mixed soldiers with long spears (pikes) and musketeers using early firearms to support each other in battle.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is covered in Britain: Warfare between AD 1350 and AD 1700?

This GCSE topic covers how warfare in Britain changed from the late Middle Ages to the seventeenth century, including longbow battles, gunpowder weapons, civil war, and the growing power of the state.

Why is the Battle of Agincourt important in GCSE History?

Agincourt is important because it shows how well-led, disciplined English infantry and longbowmen could defeat a much larger French army of knights, highlighting changes in tactics and the role of common soldiers.

How did gunpowder weapons change warfare in Britain after 1350?

Gunpowder weapons slowly reduced the dominance of armoured knights and castle walls. Armies relied more on infantry with firearms, artillery, and organised tactics controlled by kings and commanders.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which English commander ravaged the French countryside in 1356 prior to the English victory at Poitiers in the same year?

Edward III

Edward the Black Prince

The Earl of Warwick

The Earl of Shrewsbury

This technique was known as a chevauchee, whereby an army would lay waste to the countryside to deny food and shelter to its opponents

2 .

Which of the following is not a firearm?

Pike

Flintlock

Musket

Revolver

During this period firearms replaced other infantry weapons, reducing the role of cavalry and enhancing the role of the infantry

3 .

Which port did Henry V besiege before moving inland to engage the French at Agincourt?

Honfleur

Le Havre

Harfleur

Calais

Henry was keen to defeat the main French army, and so he decided to move rapidly inland before returning to England

4 .

At which major battle did Cromwell defeat the Royalist forces in 1645, effectively winning the Civil War for Parliament?

Marston Moor

Newbury

Edgehill

Naseby

Cromwell had learnt the effective use of cavalry and he gradually wore down Royalist resistance in the North and the Midlands

5 .

At which fort on the Thames Estuary did Queen Elizabeth I rally her troops in 1588 as the Spanish Armada threatened to invade England?

Gravesend

Shoeburyness

Tilbury

Sheerness

Elizabeth had done her best to assemble an army from the county militias, as she expected a Spanish landing somewhere in South East England. She made a rousing speech, but could not know that the danger of an invasion had now passed as the Spanish fleet had been dispersed by Drake's fire ships and a southerly wind

6 .

In which English county did Henry VIII construct the following artillery castles around 1530? Sandgate, Deal, Walmer, Sandown.

Sussex

Essex

Hampshire

Kent

Henry's fear of a French invasion led him to construct a series of low artillery castles on the south coast of England

7 .

Oliver Cromwell mustered a full-time professional army, which helped him to win the 1645 campaign against Charles I's depleted forces. What was this force called?

The New Model Army

The New Modern Army

The Model Army

The New Army

Cromwell emerged as the outstanding Parliamentary commander during the Civil War. He saw that only a fully professional body could defeat the King and ensure Parliament's security after the war

8 .

Which infantry weapon is usually regarded as the main factor in the English victory at Agincourt in 1415?

Crossbow

Musket

Pike

Longbow

The English army was outnumbered at Agincourt, and weary and disease-ridden after the march from the coast. It faced the flower of the French nobility, who fought as mounted knights

9 .

What name is given to a soldier of fortune - i.e. one who fights, not for a cause, but for money?

Mercenary

Troubadour

Minuteman

Militiaman

This period saw an increased use of such troops who often came from Scotland, Switzerland or Germany. They would fight well if paid on time, but they could mutiny or even go over to the other side if not paid

10 .

Which of the following was a hand-held firearm, becoming a strong feature of warfare by the early sixteenth century?

Arquebus

Culverin

Howitzer

Revolver

Gunpowder became more widely available from the end of the fourteenth century, and was used both in hand-held weapons for the infantry and in artillery

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Britain, migration and empire overview, c790 - present day

Author: Edward Towne