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Renaissance Weapons of War

Renaissance Weapons of War. Advancements That C hanged the World. Gunpowder. China in early 9 th Century Finally into Europe on the Silk Road Better 400 years late than never! Roger Bacon, 1214-1294 Earliest European account William of Rubruck ? Chinese firecrackers?. Mmmmmm … Bacon.

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Renaissance Weapons of War

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  1. RenaissanceWeapons of War Advancements That Changed the World

  2. Gunpowder • China in early 9th Century • Finally into Europe on the Silk Road • Better 400 years late than never! • Roger Bacon, 1214-1294 • Earliest European account • William of Rubruck? • Chinese firecrackers? Mmmmmm … Bacon

  3. Gunpowder • Charcoal • Sulfur • Potassium Nitrate • Saltpetre …….

  4. Gunpowder Secret Formula, heavily guarded by “Fire Workers” and “Pertremen” European Advancements: • Italian – Pyrotechnics / Fireworks • German – Scientific Advancements • “Corning” • Moisten gunpowder, mash into cakes, break into grains • 30% to 300% more powerful • Transportable • Standardized

  5. Siege Engine • Trebuchet • Projectiles weighing up to 350 pounds • Warwolf, 1304, Edward Longshanks, King of England • Largest known trebuchet • Five master carpenters and forty-nine laborers at least three months to build http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1EAA7pkEJ4

  6. The Cannon

  7. The Battle of Crecy26 August 1346 • 1st major battle in Europe where gunpowder artillery was used • King Edward III’s army of 3,000 men & knights + 10,000 archers vs 60,000 Frenchmen • Cannons most likely had a more psychological effect

  8. The Battle of Crecy26 August 1346 “They made a sound like thunder and caused much loss in men and horses … they struck terror into the French army, it being the first time they had seen such thundering weapons”

  9. Siege Cannon / Bombard • Mons Meg, King of Scotland, 1449: • The 20-inch caliber • 400-pound stone balls • Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol, 1544: • 24 ft in length • 4.75 inch caliber • 10 lb iron ball 6,000 feet

  10. Cannon Improvements • Better manufacturing resources and materials • Breech Loading • Gunpowder production and Standardization

  11. Medieval Castles • Really cool looking • Not so good against the siege cannon and newer tactics • King Charles VIII of France • 1494 Italian War • Brought cannons with him • Realization that Italy was wealthy, but weak

  12. Star Forts • French Invasion of Italy / The Italian Wars • Michelangelo, Governor of Fortifications , Siege of Florence (1529–30)

  13. Hand Cannon • Ca. 1260 in Battle of AinJalut (Jerusalem) Through 1520 • Not very accurate • Very Scary to foes

  14. Arquebus (early “musket”) • Replaced “Hand Cannons” • 15th to 17th Centuries • Matchlock: • Dangerous • Poor in wet weather • Not very accurate

  15. Arquebus Improvements • Matchlock to “Wheel lock” (ca. 1500) • Similar to a zippo lighter • Difficult and expensive to manufacture • The “Caliver” • Standardized bore and shot

  16. From Arquebus to Musket • Wheel lock to Flintlock (ca. 1610) • (likely) Marin le Bourgeoys, for the King of France, Louis XIII • A trigger mechanism used to strike sparks in an iron pan filled with powder • more reliable, especially in the wet Le Bourgeoys

  17. End of an Era, Forsooth! • More powerful, more accurate guns • Able to penetrate heavy plate armor as easily as the longbow • Less training required • Less strength required • Cavalry chose mobility over heavy armor

  18. The future of the Gun 33 Guns in one. Hmmmm …. More IS better!

  19. How Battles were Fought • Spanish Tercio ca. 1530 • Ideally 3,000 soldiers (more like 1,500) • Pikemen, Swordsman & Arquebusiers • Dutch Battallions ca. 1590 • 550 men (much like Roman Legion) • 250 Pikemen, 300 Arquebusiers • Fast-moving and largely independent • Swede Power: King Gustav Adolphus • Battle of Breitenfeld, 1631 • 24,000 (+18,000) vs 31,000

  20. Renaissance Weapon Advancements • Driven by Science, Art, Skilled Tradesmen, Money • From 400 years late to leading the world • Change in Power: • Weapons and Armor • Fortifications • Financing (how to pay for expensive manufacturing) • Tactics

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