Question

How did the arrival of gunpowder weapons effect the way of warfare in Medieval Europe?


More soldiers used longbows to fight


Knights became more useful


Less people were needed to fight wars


Knights became much less useful

Answer 1

Best answer: "Knights became much less useful."

Why: The introduction of gunpowder weapons (handguns and especially cannon) gradually undermined the military roles that made medieval knights dominant. Cannon made high stone castles and city walls vulnerable; firearms and pikes made heavily armoured shock cavalry less effective on the battlefield; and guns required less training than bows, so infantry armed with firearms became more important. The result was a shift to infantry- and artillery-centred tactics, new fortification styles (trace italienne), and the growth of professional standing armies rather than feudal knightly levies.

Why the other choices are wrong:
- "More soldiers used longbows" — the longbow was already in use before firearms and was eventually supplanted by firearms, not increased by them.
- "Knights became more useful" — the opposite is true.
- "Less people were needed to fight wars" — in fact, warfare often required larger, more permanent forces (standing armies) and more specialized personnel (artillery crews, engineers).