Study Notes on Geoffrey Parker's Review Essay of the Military Revolution, 1955-2005

Review Essay: The "Military Revolution," 1955-2005: From Belfast to Barcelona and The Hague Author: Geoffrey Parker

Abstract: Michael Roberts launched the "Military Revolution" idea in 1955 at the Queen's University, Belfast. Geoffrey Parker reflects on the event and its impact, as well as reviews two journals devoted to military history in early modern Europe.

Introduction to the Military Revolution

  • Michael Roberts introduces the "Military Revolution" concept in a lecture in Belfast.

  • Date: 1955

  • Context: Focused on early modern European military history.

  • Roberts' initial disclaimer: Discussed his research focus on a small country peripheral to central European developments.

  • Emphasized the obscurity of Swedish history, necessitating a personal approach to scholarship, citing its neglect by English historians.

  • Presentation of the military revolution:

    • Transition from the lance and pike to firepower.

    • Increase in army sizes.

    • Adoption of complex strategies influenced significantly by Maurice and William Louis of Nassau and Gustavus Adolphus.

Characteristics of the Military Revolution

  • Historians have attributed different characteristics to the 'Military Revolution', which can include:

    • Technological advancements in firearms and artillery, leading to changes in combat tactics.

    • Administrative reforms in military organization and funding that allowed for larger standing armies.

    • Development of new strategies and tactics, such as linear tactics and battlefield formations.

    • Increased central control by states over military forces, leading to the evolution of modern state systems.

Scholarly Reception and Influence of the Military Revolution

  • Initial Impact

    • Significant praise from Sir George Clark in his 1956 Wiles Lectures, establishing it as a new orthodoxy.

    • Roberts' arguments became foundational for subsequent military historical literature over the next 25 years.

    • By 1976, extensive academic discourse began surrounding the military revolution.

  • Connections to contemporary theories like the