Greater interdisciplinary study of the impact of medieval warfare should be a priority. There are many ways in which this topic might be approached. However, careful recording of examples of extensive burning of crops or buildings would be desirable. It should perhaps be noted that current forms of record-keeping make it hard for researchers to search across sites for examples of burning or other significant disruption.
Historical research is increasingly highlighting the wider impact of conflict on medieval Scotland. The disruption caused by war went far beyond the casualties of a particular military engagement. Written records indicate that invading armies often deliberately devastated settlements and farmland in an effort to disrupt their opponents’ economic networks. Even when armies did not deliberately destroy crops and communities, the mere presence of several thousand additional people, not to mention their accompanying animals, in an area probably placed considerable pressure on local resources.
The impact of coastal raiding and of naval warfare on the region deserves greater consideration. In the 1540s both the English and French made extensive use of shipping during their military interventions in the region. The sixteenth century also saw efforts by the Scottish crown to expand its naval power, as well as less centralised activity by Scottish privateers. Among other consequences, the naval expansion of the late medieval period may have exacerbated the deforestation of South East Scotland. Overall, we need to weave together the disparate strands of historical, environmental, and archaeological evidence to make an informed assessment of the scale of disruption posed by medieval warfare.
Wider Impact of Conflict Research Questions
- How much devastation was caused by major military campaigns (for example Wars of Independence, Anglo-Scottish conflicts of 1540s)?
- What other forms of disruption did major military campaigns cause in South East Scotland during the medieval period?
- What can we discover about how medieval armies were supplied?
- What impact did raiding activity have on life in South East Scotland?
- How did the presence of foreign garrisons (especially English and French) affect surrounding communities?
- How did naval warfare affect South East Scotland during the medieval period?