The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), a centuries-long conflict between England and France, was more than a battle of kingdoms—it was an arena where revolutionary military technologies were tested. From the deadly precision of the English longbow to the earth-shaking power of early cannons, the war spurred innovations that redefined warfare and left a lasting mark on history. If you’re searching for “what new technology developed in the Hundred Years’ War,” this blog post explores the key advancements, their battlefield impact, and their enduring legacy in 2025.
Historical Context of the Hundred Years’ War
Lasting for more than a century, the Hundred Years’ War was a succession of battles incited by territorial disagreements and competing claims to the throne of France. Armies initially used feudal knights, archers, and simple fortifications, but the long war called for new tools and tactics. The outcome was a surge of technological change that changed the course of European warfare and formed the foundation of modern military strategy.
Major Hundred Years’ War Technological Innovations
1. English Longbow: Precision and Power
Though the longbow preceded the war, its strategic dominance by English armies made it a game-changer, especially in victories such as Crécy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415).
Features: Made from yew, the longbow measured approximately six feet in length and weighed 100–150 pounds at draw. Firing arrows up to 300 yards, penetrating armor at close distance.
Impact: Longbowmen annihilated French cavalry, with swift volleys—12 per minute—bettering slower crossbows. English archers at Agincourt crippled a larger French army, demonstrating infantry’s superiority.
Legacy: The longbow moved warfare in the direction of ranged battle, decreasing dependence on knights and affecting subsequent archery and firearm strategy.
2. Gunpowder Artillery: Cannons on the Rise
Gunpowder, brought from Asia to Europe, transformed siege warfare throughout the war. Early cannons or bombards appeared by the 1340s, while major developments took place by the 1440s.
Features: Heavy, iron-forged cannons discharged stone or metal balls, able to shatter castle walls. Advances in metallurgy and gunpowder made them more dependable.
Impact: French cannons were decisive at Castillon (1453), devastating English defenses and concluding the war. Sieges accelerated as fortifications collapsed.
Legacy: Cannons heralded the end of medieval castles and the beginning of gunpowder warfare, shaping contemporary artillery.
3. Plate Armor: Advanced Protection
As firearms became more deadly, armor improved. By the late 14th century, chainmail was replaced by full plate armor, which provided greater protection against arrows and early guns.
Features: Constructed from steel, plate armor had articulated joints for mobility and weighed 40–60 pounds. Helmets such as the armet offered greater head protection.
Impact: Knights in plate armor withstood longbow volleys, prolonging their battlefield relevance. However, the armor’s cost and weight spurred tactical shifts toward infantry.
Legacy: Plate armor advancements drove metallurgy forward, influencing Renaissance craftsmanship and modern protective gear.
4. Crossbow Enhancements
Crossbows, widely used by French and mercenary forces, saw improvements during the war, including stronger steel prods and mechanical loading devices.
Features: Crossbows shot bolts with armor-piercing power at 150–200 yards with less skill than longbows. Cranks accelerated reloading.
Impact: Useful in sieges and defensive entrenchments, crossbows supplemented infantry practice, countering the longbow’s superiority.
Legacy: Crossbows made warfare more democratic, allowing less-skilled soldiers to fight, a process that carried on with firearms.
5. Naval and Fortification Advances
The war also stimulated changes outside weapons:
Naval Technology: English carracks, with better hulls and sails, more effective naval logistics, essential for Channel crossings.
Fortifications: Gun-resistant designs, such as low-walled bastions, appeared to thwart artillery, supplanting great castles.
Military Organization: Both armies embraced professional, paid forces, enhancing discipline and lessening dependence on feudal levies.
Battlefield Impact of These Technologies
The interaction of these innovations created a dynamic battlefield. Early English successes, such as Crécy, demonstrated the longbow’s capability to carnage cavalry, taking advantage of French dependence on knights. Toward the end of the war, French deployment of cannons and professional armies reversed the trend, as at Formigny (1450) and Castillon. Sieges, previously months-long affairs, became rapid with artillery, while plate armor and crossbows increased infantry strength.
Societal and Cultural Impacts
The war technologies resonated off the battlefield:
Economic Growth: Cannon and armor demand increased mining, metallurgy, and commerce. Gunpowder manufacture was a state monopoly.
Social Shifts: Standing armies undermined feudalism, strengthening monarchs and establishing a new soldier class.
Cultural Influence: Chronicles and artwork, such as tapestries of armored knights, hailed these inventions, defining medieval identity.
Why These Technologies Matter in 2025
In 2025, learning about the Hundred Years’ War’s technologies is a lesson in innovation in the face of stress. As longbows and cannons shook up medieval warfare, so AI, drones, and cyber technology transform contemporary conflicts. Posts on forums such as X remind us of continued interest in the longbow’s accuracy or cannon’s fury, past and present.
Difficulties in the Study of Medieval Technology
It is not without challenges to research this period:
Limited Sources: Medieval records, like Froissart’s Chronicles, often exaggerate or lack detail, requiring archaeological corroboration.
Bias: English and French accounts favor their side, skewing technological narratives.
Rapid Evolution: Technologies like cannons advanced quickly, complicating timelines.
Historians counter these by studying artifacts, such as preserved longbows at the Mary Rose Museum, and cross-referencing manuscripts with battlefield excavations.
How to Dive Deeper into Hundred Years’ War Technology
Museums: Go to London’s Tower Armouries or France’s Musée de l’Armée for longbows, armor, and early cannons.
Books: Read The Hundred Years War by Jonathan Sumption for blow-by-blow accounts of battles and technology.
Online Communities: Participate in X discussions or Reddit’s r/AskHistorians for new insights into medieval warfare.
Reenactments: Watch events by groups such as the Medieval Combat Society to witness longbow and cannon replicas in action.
Case Studies: Technology in Action
Crécy (1346): English longbowmen, on a hill, annihilated French knights, demonstrating the bow’s range and velocity.
Castillon (1453): French guns overpowered English troops, signaling artillery’s tipping point in winning the war.
Joan of Arc’s Sieges: Enhanced French artillery, now with Joan’s command, reclaimed major fortresses such as Orléans.
Lessons for Today
The Hundred Years’ War reminds us that technology flourishes in times of hardship. The simplicity of the longbow, the brute strength of the cannon, and the strength of armor are all an example of human resourcefulness—echoes of 2025’s tech-oriented society. History or tech geek, these innovations show how need fosters innovation.
Conclusion
The Hundred Years’ War was not merely a battle for thrones—it was an incubator for technologies such as the longbow, gunpowder artillery, and plate armor. These developments moved warfare from charging knights to explosive and ranged warfare and laid the ground for the modern world. By investigating “what new technology developed in the Hundred Years’ War,” we get a history of adaptation and innovation that resonates today in 2025. Jump into this revolutionary era, and you’ll notice how medieval innovation continues to resonate today.