The Evolution of the Art of War between 1400 and 1600

It can be said that the period of time between 1400 and 1600 was one of transformation. The Renaissance revolutionized art and reintroduced Greek and Roman works to Europe. Increased technologies and a hunger for products from the Indies led to Columbus’s discovery of the Americas in 1492 which revolutionized commerce and international trade. In 1517 a German monk named Martin Luther listed a series of complaints against the Roman church leading to a reformation that transformed the western church. At the same time a more obscure, though equally important revolution was taking place, one whose effects were no less significant.

The invasion of Italy by Charles the VII of France in 1494 is considered the beginning of the age of gunpowder warfare, as it was among the first large-scale use of mobile cannons against fortifications. The effect of gunpowder on warfare cannot be understated; its introduction fundamentally altered the ways that wars were fought, no longer were fortifications the ultimate means of defense they were in the Middle Ages. Knights, likewise ultimately lost their position of authority, in large part due to the effects of gunpowder. Though gunpowder eventually revolutionized warfare, what effects did it have during the sixteenth century? Was it the transformation gradual or immediate? An examination of the evidence shows that the time between the 14th and the 17th century century was not only a pivotal time in religious and cultural thought but also in warfare.

In order to understand the extent of the changes in the art of war during this period we examine the process by which warfare evolved. There were two main areas that underwent significant transformation during the sixteenth century, combat in the f...

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