Marching Forward: Developments in Military Technology

In the 15th-18th centuries, Europe witnessed a drastic change in the ways wars were fought. While the firearm had been introduced into Europe as early as 1382, it was in the early modern period that it was widely adopted and underwent significant devolpments to transform it into standard equipment for soldiers. Catapults and trebuchets were replaced by cannons and mortars, and military fortifications underwent changes to better withstand these new weapons. This section will examine these technological developments as well as their effect on military tactics and strategy.