Looking for Audiobooks or Something Similar about War in the Middle Ages

by TheLittleRedRooster

I am really interested in learning about warfare in the Middle Ages. I want to learn who were the people that fought in these wars.

I understand that the Middle Ages is a broad topic. If I had to narrow it down, I would say I am mostly interested in the Hundred Years War, as this seems to be the most representative of the Middle Ages to a degree.

I want to learn more than just specific battles. I have already watched many of those kinds of videos. I want more of the big picture.

Ideally I want to find audio books or some series of lectures whether It be on YouTube or a podcast or any other media. I want to listen while I commute.

I have searched on YouTube and podcasts and cannot find anything nearly as detailed. I want to spend hours listening to some sort of lecture. The longer the better.

Some topics that I want to learn about are:

Did peasants often fight in wars or did the landowners mostly fight in these wars? What did a typical campaign look like? How often did pitched battles and sieges occur? What did training look like? Who made up the infantry and the missile troops? What did war logistics look like? How were the troops fed? How often did raiding take part in war? Where did mercenaries come from, where they nobles? What did the typical army look like? Was it mostly cavalry? What did the skirmishing phase of a battle look like? How prevalent was the use of missile troops in proportion to the rest of the army? I know the English used longbows but who were these men, how did they become longbow men, did peasants become longbow men? It is my understanding that standing armies were rare, why? Why didn't the Roman standards in the military continue on into the Middle Ages?

Thank you!!!!

TLDR: I am looking for audio books or lectures on war in the Middle Ages, more so than just specific battles but what it was like in general.

voyeur324

Have you ever listened to the AskHistorians Podcast?

/u/Rhodis was interviewed about European Military Orders for Episode 96 (like the Knights Templar)

/u/WARitter was interviewed about where knights got their shining armor for Episode 82 and Episode 83

Click here to look at a list of other podcast episodes.

EDIT: See also Episode #166, linked below with contributions by /u/thefeckamIdoing, among others.