When did pike and shot obsolete?

A common end date for the use of the pike in infantry formations is 1700, although some armies such as the Prussians had already abandoned the pike decades prior, whereas others such as the Swedish and Russians continued to use it for several decades afterward—the Swedes of King Charles XII in particular were using it …

Why did guns replace bows?

Obviously, firearms have a much greater armor penetration potential when compared to bows. But they need to hit first! You could train a man to use an early firearm in a fraction of the time it would take to use a bow. For this reason, guns quickly replaced bows on the battlefields of Europe.

When did the British army stop using pikes?

Also referred to as a ‘pike’, it ceased to be issued to the infantry from 1830.

How did crossbows and longbows change warfare?

The bow and the crossbow gave commanders a weapon that could be used to target enemy soldiers at a long range. In both attack and defense, a company of archers could provide massed fire and attack the enemy before the army could get into melee range.

Why did the bayonet replace the pike?

Although they did not have the full reach of pikes, bayonets were effective against cavalry charges, which used to be the main weakness of musketeer formations, and allowed armies to massively expand their potential firepower by giving every infantryman a firearm; pikemen were no longer needed to protect musketeers …

What were pikes used for?

A pike is a pole weapon, a very long thrusting spear formerly used extensively by infantry. Unlike many similar weapons, the pike is not intended to be thrown. Pikes were used regularly in European warfare from the early Middle Ages until around 1700, and wielded by foot soldiers deployed in close order.

Why did the musket replace the Longbow?

The demand for yew bowstaves to supply archers was such that by the late 16th century mature yew trees were almost extinct in northern Europe. The musket may have replaced the longbow simply because, suitable bow wood for a large army of archers was not available in sufficient quantities.

What replaced the bow and arrow?

First bows and arrows were replaced by matchlock muskets. That appears to have happened gradually in the 1500s. Rifled weapons were actually invented in the 1500s but were very uncommon, expensive hunting weapons. Then matchlock muskets were replaced by flintlock muskets.

When did Pikes start being used?

Pikes and long halberds were in use in ancient China from the Warring States period since the 5th century BC.

How did the longbow change warfare?

The longbow was vital in the victory of the English over the French in the Hundred Years’ War. The ability of the archers to shoot more arrows per minute than crossbowmen and the long range of the weapon gave the outnumbered English an advantage in the Battles of Crecy and Agincourt.

How did the invention of crossbows change warfare?

The increased firing range the crossbow gave meant that an army could attack the enemy despite natural obstacles that would have hitherto blocked an engagement, again allowing warfare to be conducted at a safer distance.

What was the pike used for?

How did fire-lances contribute to the development of projectile weapons?

Their main contribution to the advancement of projectile weaponry was because they were some of the first weapons to be able to hurl a killing-shot a fair distance. Fire-lances would give rise to cannons, rockets, and ultimately the first true guns.

When was the crossbow first used in warfare?

Crossbows were used as hunting weapons, and in warfare – which is evident from the Battle of Hastings in 1066 – until about 1500. Their larger cousins, steel crossbows, first saw the battlefield in 1370.

Why did knights use crossbows instead of bows?

The main enhancement of crossbows over regular hand bows, was that their kinetic energy created a much stronger impact, able to penetrate most knights’ armor, and they could be used effectively after a week of training, as opposite to a single-shot longbow that took years of training to use effectively.

What were catapults used for in the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, many types of catapults were built with varying success. One of the earlier types of catapults built was called the mangonel, derived from a Greek word meaning “engine of war.” They were used to launch projectiles at a castle’s walls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIoUr5GJa24