Why were the English so good at archery?
Back in 1349, a royal proclamation from King Edward III stated that "every man in the kingdom should, on Sundays and holidays, make himself a bow or crossbow, and use the same for recreation; and that the butts for archery should be kept up in every township."
This was the beginning of a long tradition of archery in England. Archery became a popular sport and a necessary skill for self-defense and warfare. English archers were particularly skilled, and they played a major role in several important battles, including the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
There are several reasons why the English were so good at archery. First, they had access to good materials. High-quality yew wood was plentiful in England, and it was ideal for making bows. English archers also had access to good arrows. They used long, thin arrows made of ash or hazel.
Second, the English had a good training system. Archers were trained from a young age, and they spent many hours practicing. They also competed in archery tournaments, this competition helped them to improve their skills.
Third, the English had a strong tradition of archery. Archery was seen as a national sport, and it was encouraged by the government. This created a positive environment for archers, and it helped to produce some of the best archers in the world.
Related Questions and Answers
- What was the "bowstring tax"? The bowstring tax was a tax that was imposed on all Englishmen who owned a bowstring. It was intended to discourage the practice of archery, but it actually had the opposite effect.
- How did 100 English archers defeat 1,200 French soldiers at the battle of Crecy? The English archers used a tactic called "massed archery" in which they fired their arrows in concentrated volleys. This tactic was devastatingly effective against the French cavalry.
- When was archery removed as an Olympic sport? Archery was removed as an Olympic sport in 1904 but was re-instated in 1908.
- What is the "Robin Hood" archery tournament? The Robin Hood archery tournament is an annual archery tournament held in Nottingham, England. It is named after the legendary outlaw Robin Hood.
- What is the "archery paradox"? The archery paradox is the phenomenon that an arrow does not actually fly in a straight line. It follows a curved trajectory due to the Magnus effect.
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