The Hundred Years War affect to Modern World Research Paper

The Hundred Years War affect to Modern World - Research Paper Example Christopher Allmand argues, â€Å"The influence of the â€Å"Annales,† school of historical writing has been largely to place the study of war in the wider social, economic, and cultural background of the societies in which it was fought, to make war part of ‘total’ history.† (1) The Hundred Years’ War began in 1337 and finally it terminated in 1453. As the war progressed, along with it the science of weaponry employed in the war also changed drastically. Mounted knights were replaced by canons and gunpowder. Battles of different intensities were fought and they went through different phases. The Hundred Years War united the people of nations and a new spirit of nationalism was born with the abolition feudalism, and the structural changes in administrative and military set up. In England civil bureaucracy got strengthened, and for both the countries, it was a period of transition from the medieval to the threshold of the early pre-modern period. The Hundred Years War: Decline of Medieval Warfare and the reasons therefor: Medieval warfare was the integral part of life in Europe during the fourteenth and first half of the fifteenth century. The nobles exercised power by either birthright or as their inborn status as warrior class. The role of the commoners was subservient and they served the Kings as archers on call. By participating in some important battles, that practice proved disastrous for France, and they realized the need to better the technical aspects of fighting to be victorious in war. The French forces suffered heavy losses against the super war tactics of English army who took position on a hill and fought with dismounted knights. French forces included mounted knights. Describing one such battle Matthew Bennet writes, â€Å" On the evening of 24th October 1415†¦.Against all expectations the battle that followed would turn out to be a decisive victory for the English, fought in a field near the village that was to give it the name—Agincourt.†(7)In short, The Hundred Ye ars War was a land battle of two monarchies. In modern times, a war of this genre and for long period would never happen; taking into consideration the destructive power of present-day weapons and such prolonged conflicts would not be supported by the democratic governments. The last prolonged major war between several nations, World War II, culminated in employing the nuclear weapons to end the war, and Japan was powerless to engage America in a prolonged war. Effects of The Hundred Years War on Military Traditions. Allmand further argues, â€Å"In France and England, it was the breakdown of the historic feudal order, no longer able to meet the demands of changing times, and its gradual replacement by an order of nations increasingly aware of their growing national characteristics.†(7)The rules and mode of conflict changed. Canons and gunpowder impacted the military strategies. The military donned a new face in Europe. Trained gunners replaced the bowmen. Western European hi story was impacted significantly in social, intellectual and cultural areas. The English employed tactics of total war against the French population and economy and its effect on both sides were quite devastating. During this period England had also to encounter the bloodiest civil war known as the War of Roses. Geographical Effects The Hundred Years War did not mean that the war progressed for hundred years without intermission. There were a series of wars with uneasy peace interludes. But the unresolved issues about the struggle continued for a century. Many important problems beyond the battles cropped up, and the process