The Hundred Years' War was a 116-year conflict between England and France over territory from 1337 to 1453. The English initially had success using longbows, powerful weapons that could pierce armor. Over time, technological innovations like lighter cannons and iron cannonballs helped the French gain advantages. The war led to massive losses of life in northern France and the decline of feudal systems as commoners played greater roles in battle.

1. The Hundred
Years’ War
1337 –> 1453 =
116 years
What gains and
losses of territory
happened between
these years?

2. How did the technologies of war affect society in the Middle Ages?
During the Hundred Roads were too
No fighting occurred
Years war, there were muddy or blocked by
in the winter months
frequent, long truces snow

3. How did the technologies of war affect society in the Middle Ages?
During military
campaigns, the And more time
armies spent less maneuvering for
time fighting… position…
Burning homes
and raiding
farmers’ food
stores.

4. How did the technologies of war affect society in the Middle Ages?
• The Hundred Years’ War began as a disagreement about who
should be the king of France
KING?
• The French side supported a cousin of the deceased king of
French? France
• The English king, Edward III, who as a nephew of the
English? deceased French king, believed HE should be king

5. How did the technologies of war
affect society in the Middle Ages?
• Eventually it
became a fight
over territory
• The British fought
to GAIN French
territory.
• The French fought
to KEEP their land.

6. How did the technologies of war
affect society in the Middle Ages?
Technology and Tactics
• The English has a powerful
weapon that the French did
not have: the longbow
• It was so powerful that it
could send an arrow through
the armoured leg of a
mounted night, the body of
his horse, and the knight’s leg
on the other side!

7. How did the technologies of war
affect society in the Middle Ages?
Why were the French defeated so often?
• Because the English archers were not fellow
nobles, the French knights would sometimes
refuse to attack them!
• Instead, French knights would try to ride past
the archers to get at their equals (English
knights).

8. p. 192, Fig. 6-13: Why would archers be so vital
to the English victory?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rwlvL-
dafk

9. Why would archers be so vital to the
English victory?
• The English army was much smaller than the
French army, and its soldiers were hungry and
sick.
• The archers gave the English army protection
from French attack.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRkmdpLg
LiE

10. Joan of Arc
• In 1429, a young peasant woman appeared at
the French court, claiming angelic voices had
commanded her to drive the English out of
France
• The dauphin (the eldest son of the French
king) gave her some troops and sent her to
Orleans.
• Joan defeated the English.

11. Joan of Arc
• 2 years later, Joan was captured by enemies of
King Charles and sold to the English.
• She was put on trial for heresy and witchcraft
because she was dressed in armour (men’s
clothing)
• On May 30, 1431, she was burned at the stake.
• She was 19 years old.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38mEN34lbT
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12. Who won the Hundred Years’ War?
And why?
The French began using more effective artillery
War technology innovations:
Lighter cannons
Iron cannonballs
Advances in gunpowder

13. So… how did the TECHNOLOGIES of
war affect society in the Middle Ages?
• Northern France was in ruins
• England had wasted valuable resources & men
• The French nobility was destroyed
• But! They developed a strong sense of
national pride.

14. So… how did the TECHNOLOGIES of
war affect society in the Middle Ages?
• The longbow and cannon gave commoners
more importance on the battlefield
• The feudal lords & knights were not as
important
• Feudalism was on its way out… including
knights and castles
• In the FUTURE: Kings would need large armies
to fight their wars, not feudal vassals