The Development of Warfare in Britain, c.500 to the present day — Eduqas GCSE History

This topic explores the evolution of warfare in Britain from the early medieval period to the modern day. You will examine how military tactics, technology, and organisation have changed in response to social, political, and economic factors. Key themes include the shift from feudal levies to professional armies, the impact of the Industrial Revolution on weaponry and logistics, and the changing nature of conflict from pitched battles to total war and counter-insurgency.

Understanding the development of warfare is crucial because it reveals how Britain's military power shaped its global influence and domestic society. For example, the creation of a standing army after the English Civil War (1642-1651) centralised state power, while the introduction of conscription in World War I (1916) transformed the relationship between citizens and the state. This topic also connects to broader historical debates about the effectiveness of military reforms and the human cost of technological progress.

In the WJEC GCSE specification, this topic is part of the 'Changes in Warfare' depth study. You will need to analyse continuity and change across key periods: medieval, early modern, industrial, and modern warfare. Focus on specific case studies such as the Battle of Hastings (1066), the English Civil War, the Crimean War (1853-1856), and the Western Front (1914-1918). The exam will expect you to evaluate the causes and consequences of military changes, using evidence from these examples.

• →Feudal levy: A system where knights and peasants provided military service in exchange for land, used in medieval England until the Hundred Years' War.
• →Standing army: A permanent, professional army maintained in peacetime, first established under Charles II in 1660, replacing temporary forces.
• →Total war: A conflict where entire societies are mobilised, as seen in World War I and II, involving conscription, rationing, and bombing of civilians.
• →Technological determinism: The idea that new weapons (e.g., longbow, machine gun, tank) directly caused changes in tactics and outcomes.
• →Combined arms: The coordination of infantry, artillery, cavalry, and later air power, perfected by the British in World War I's Hundred Days Offensive (1918).

• Causes of war (religion, politics, nationalism, ideology)
• Changes in tactics and strategy (Saxon/Viking methods, linear tactics, trench warfare, guerrilla methods)
• Training and recruitment (feudal duties, New Model Army, press gangs, propaganda, conscription, National Service)
• Changes in technology (siege warfare, bows, firearms, industrial weaponry, tanks, aircraft, nuclear warfare, computerisation)
• Development of naval warfare (longboats, Tudor navy, Royal Navy role in Napoleonic Wars and World Wars, modern function)
• Role of women in war (medieval battles, nursing/support 1500-1815, Home Front roles, front line roles in the 20th century)
• Historic site analysis (key features, significance, relationship to broader thematic developments)

• 💡Focus on identifying and explaining change and continuity over the long term.
• 💡Ensure you can link the specific historic site to the broader themes of the study.
• 💡Use specific examples of wars or developments to exemplify general trends.
• 💡Demonstrate an understanding of how political, social, economic, and cultural perspectives influenced the development of warfare.
• 💡Use specific examples to support your arguments. For instance, when discussing the impact of the longbow, mention the battles of Crécy (1346) and Agincourt (1415) to show how it changed English tactics.
• 💡Show awareness of change and continuity. For example, while the tank was new in WWI, cavalry continued to be used until 1918. Examiners reward nuanced analysis that avoids oversimplification.
• 💡Link military changes to wider social and political contexts. For example, the development of the RAF in 1918 was linked to the fear of aerial bombing, which influenced interwar policies like appeasement.

• Misconception: Medieval warfare was all about knights in shining armour. Correction: Most soldiers were peasant archers or spearmen; knights were a small elite. Battles were rare; sieges and raids were more common.
• Misconception: The machine gun made World War I static. Correction: While it contributed to trench warfare, other factors like artillery, railways, and supply lines were equally important. The war ended with mobile warfare using tanks and aircraft.
• Misconception: The British army was always professional. Correction: Until the 19th century, the army was often poorly trained and equipped, with officers buying commissions. Reforms after the Crimean War (e.g., Cardwell Reforms 1868-1874) professionalised it.