Warfare – 16th, 17th and 18th centuries
In the Tudor period, armies were still mainly raised by monarchs when they were needed. They would Being given the responsibility to do something by the monarch. their noblemen to find local men to fight.
In this age of exploration, sea travel to the new and old worlds was made possible by improvements in the size and power of ships. This made control of the sea vital. Although the Tudor navy scored a notable victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 with Something that is new and advanced. use of guns, British sea power only really emerged in the mid-17th century.
The chief development in this period was the use of gunpowder, which led to the decline of castle-building by the 16th century. It also meant that muskets and cannon became a common feature of warfare, and this led to the decline of armoured Soldiers who fought on horseback. on the battlefield.
During the Civil War of the 1640s, Cromwell’s New Model Army laid down a model for the modern professional army with 50,000 full-time, professional soldiers showing the value of better discipline and better equipment to military success.
The development of the resources and skills of the Royal Navy culminated in a decisive victory over the French at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Not all sailors signed up willingly, and recruitment for the navy continued to be characterised by the use of Also known as impressment. To physically force men to fight in the army or navy. from the mid-17th century on.
