Tag Archives: war

Gunpowder and castles

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Ruth

I’ve made some references to the changing nature of warfare in the 14th and 15th centuries, which it’s worth spelling out in more detail. Gunpowder changed the nature of war by changing siege strategy; whole cities could be besieged and … Continue reading →

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Strategic siting

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Ruth

The first rule for defending against siege tactics was to choose a sophisticated building site. Miners dug tunnels under castle walls and then lit fires in the tunnels so that the intense heat weakened the wall’s foundation. If the wall … Continue reading →

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“Modern” warfare

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Ruth

The century of the First Crusade was, to its time, like the first World War to ours. To put it another way, Northern Europe was a “developing nation” while the Near East was modern. The history of medieval Europe is … Continue reading →

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