Sage-Tips

Why did only the English use the longbow?

The English had the advantage of the longbow superiority which came from the material used to create it. Longbows were cut from one piece of wood. They made good longbows. Its outer wide wood was soft and could withstand a lot of tension.

Who used longbows in 100 years war?

the English
In the Hundred Years War, the long bow was used by the English to a devastating effect. The long bow was also effective in naval battles. At the Battle of Sluys in 1340, English archers poured a devastating longbow attack on tightly packed French ships that suffered serious losses.

Did the Normans use longbows?

Bows were used by both Anglo-Saxons and the Normans. It was the weapon used by soldiers of low rank. At the end of the 12th century the longbow began to replace the bow as a military weapon. …

Did the Vikings have longbows?

Available evidence suggests that only longbows were used in Viking lands. However, some intriguing but speculative evidence suggests that composite recurve bows similar to those used in eastern Europe and Asia may have been used in Viking lands. Bows made in this manner store more energy for a given bow length.

When was the longbow first used in battle?

effect on warfare …the Middle Ages, and the English longbow, introduced to European battlefields in the 14th century, that made the arrow a formidable battlefield missile. The longbow, which seems to have originated in Wales, was as tall as a man and the arrow about half that length, the famous cloth-yard shaft.

Why are longbows so long?

A longbow was designed to shoot targets at long range and distances, which is good for hunting. Because of the length of the bow, you are able to pull the bowstring at a longer length. This allows more energy to shoot the arrow out which is enough for the arrow to hit targets at a farther range.

How did the longbow impact the Hundred Years War?

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 Hundred Years War transform France?

The consolidation of the French monarch’s control over all of France. A greater use of international diplomacy and specialised diplomats. A greater feeling of nationalism amongst the populations of both countries. The creation of national heroes, notably Henry V in England and Joan of Arc in France.

How effective were longbows in the Hundred Years’ War?

Though it required extensive training, the longbow could prove devastating on the battlefield and longbow-equipped archers provided the backbone of English forces during the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453). During this conflict, the weapon proved decisive at victories such as Crécy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415).

Why were long bows so difficult to use in medieval warfare?

Combined they gave longbow a deadly force that the French knights learnt to fear. But the English also had the bow of a particularly nasty arrowhead made of hardened steel whose only purpose was to penetrate armour and kill. But long bows were much more difficult to use and required lots of practice.

Why were longbow archers more vulnerable than other soldiers?

Longbow archers could be more vulnerable than other soldiers because they didn’t have adequate armor and weapons to use for close combat. Archers had to be positioned at a distance or behind some kind of physical obstruction like a body of water. The archers could also be positioned behind lines of infantry.

Where did the longbow come from?

According to Donald Featherstone’s “The Bowmen of England” the longbow probably did arrive in England from Wales. It is impossible to trace the actual origin of the longbow, but there is good evidence that it was in use in South Wales during the second half of the twelfth century.