Medieval Warfare and Society
How was war fought in medieval England? Meet the mounted knight, the deadly longbow and the Scottish schiltron, see how armies were raised, and study the battles of Falkirk and Agincourt.
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War in the Middle Ages 🏰
Between about 1250 and 1500, English armies were built around the mounted knight, the archer and the foot soldier. This module looks at medieval weapons like the longbow, how armies were raised, and two famous battles, Falkirk and Agincourt.
Words to know 🔑
Four terms run through this topic. Learn them first.
The knight and the longbow ⚔️
One weapon began to challenge the most powerful soldier on the battlefield.
Link weapon to army 💡
The best answers LINK a new weapon to how armies changed. The longbow could kill armoured knights from a distance, so it reduced the need for large numbers of costly mounted knights. Explain that connection, rather than just describing each weapon on its own.
Match the term 🔗
- Longbow
- Schiltron
- Mounted knight
- Feudal army
- A tall bow that could pierce armour at range
- A circle of Scottish spearmen against cavalry
- A noble who fought on horseback in armour
- Soldiers a lord owed the king for land
Why the longbow? 🎯
Why was the longbow such an important medieval weapon?
- It could pierce armour and kill at long range
- It could only be fired from inside a castle
- It made mounted knights cheaper to train
- It used gunpowder to fire shots
Match battle to fact 🐎
- The Battle of Falkirk
- The Battle of Agincourt
- William Wallace
- Henry V
- A 1298 battle where English archers broke the schiltrons
- A 1415 battle won by a much smaller English army
- The Scottish leader defeated at Falkirk
- The English king who won at Agincourt
The knight declines ✅
Which TWO developments helped reduce the dominance of the mounted knight? Choose all that apply.
- The longbow
- Gunpowder and cannon
- More feudal duties for peasants
- Building bigger castles
Put it in order 🪜
An interactive activity.
Complete the sentences 🧩
In medieval armies the noble _____ fought on horseback, but he was costly. The English _____ could pierce armour at long range, and the Scots used the _____ against cavalry. Soldiers were often raised through the _____ system. As new weapons spread, the mounted knight began to _____.
Count the years 🔢
An interactive activity.
Spot the longbow effects 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Sort the factor 🧭
An interactive activity.
Explain the change ✍️
An interactive activity.