Experience of Civilians

Civilians’ experience of warfare was limited in medieval England, with no more than 10% of the adult male population engaged in wars at any one time.

Victims of raids

Land, livestock and property could be looted and destroyed.
Largest raids in the periods took place in France.
Aim was to weaken the enemy and undermine morale.

Sheltering and feeding soldiers

Purveyance: the king had the right to buy up food he needed to feed its army - led to inflation and food shortages.
Billeting: providing soldiers with accommodation in civilian housing.
Requisitioning: forcibly taking commodities to supply armies e.g. horses, weapons, ships.

Paying for war

Wars were mostly funded by loans from wealthy individuals, direct and indirect taxation.
1381 - the King attempted to introduce a Poll Tax (taxing the person, not the property) to fund the Hundred Years War. This sparked the Peasants' Revolt.

Knowledge of war

Civilians knew very little about the wars.
Literacy was 6% - sheriffs’ announcements and clergy preaching were the main ways of communicating knowledge.
London’s literacy was rising by 1400 and the population became slightly more knowledgeable.

1Medieval Warfare c.1250-1500

1.1Medieval Warfare & Society

1.1.1Weapons

1.1.2Composition

1.1.3Recruitment & Training

1.1.4Experience of Civilians

1.1.5Case Studies

1.1.6Change in Medieval Warfare

2Early Modern Warfare c.1500-1700

2.1Early Modern Warfare & Society

2.1.1Weapons

2.1.2Composition

2.1.3Recruitment & Training

2.1.4Experience of Civilians

2.1.5Case Studies

2.1.6Change in Early Modern Warfare

3Industrial Warfare c.1700-1900

3.1The Industrial Period & Warfare

3.1.1Weapons

3.1.2Composition

3.1.3Recruitment & Training

3.1.4Experience of Civilians

3.1.5Case Studies

3.1.6Change in Industrial Period Warfare

4Modern Warfare c.1900-present

4.1Modern Warfare & Society

4.1.1Weapons

4.1.2Composition

4.1.3Recruitment & Training

4.1.4Experience of Civilians

4.1.5Case Studies

4.1.6Change in Modern Warfare

5The Historic Environment

5.1London & the Second World War, 1939-45

5.1.1London: A Target

5.1.2Preparations for War

5.1.3The Blitz

5.1.4V1 & V2 Attacks

5.1.5Impact of the Blitz

5.1.6The War Effort

5.1.7The Government

5.1.8The Royal Family

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