What were the tactics used in a medieval siege?

In the Medieval period besieging armies used a wide variety of siege engines including: scaling ladders; battering rams; siege towers and various types of catapults such as the mangonel, onager, ballista, and trebuchet.

Which weapon changed medieval warfare?

Firearms The weapon that would transform the medieval world into the early modern one was the gun – handguns and arquebuses wielded by individuals, and the larger artillery pieces like cannons that could strike at fortifications.

What techniques strategies and styles of fighting did armies use in the Middle Ages?

Medieval tactics began with an emphasis on defensive fortifications, siegecraft, and armored cavalry. The introduction, however, of such new developments as the crossbow, longbow, halberd, pike, and, above all, gunpowder began to revolutionize the conduct of war.

What are the benefits of swords over other weapons?

The biggest advantage of any sword is its versatility compared to other weapons. Most swords can stab, slash and, hack the enemy, giving cutting damage, piercing damage, and blunt force trauma all in one weapon. As opposed to a spear, club, or ax, which are only capable of a few options.

What are the characteristics of medieval warfare?

Medieval warfare is the European warfare of the Middle Ages. Technological, cultural, and social developments had forced a dramatic transformation in the character of warfare from antiquity, changing military tactics and the role of cavalry and artillery (see military history).

How did battle tactics change during the Middle Ages?

Battle Tactics. Medieval battles evolved slowly from clashes of poorly organized war bands into battles where tactics and maneuvers were employed. Part of this evolution was in response to the development of different types of soldiers and weapons and learning how to use these.

Did the Middle Ages displace strategy?

Medieval strategy. Most military histories skim over the Middle Ages, incorrectly believing it to be a period in which strategy was displaced by a combination of banditry and religious fanaticism. Certainly, the sources for medieval strategic thought lack the literary appeal of the classic histories of ancient Greece and Rome.

What was the importance of fortifications in medieval warfare?

Fortifications were a very important part of warfare because they provided safety to the lord, his family, and his servants. They provided refuge from armies too large to face in open battle. The ability of the heavy cavalry to dominate a battle on an open field was useless against fortifications.