Final answer:
Wars during the Middle Ages in Europe were smaller due to the feudal system, lack of a centralized power, economic constraints, and the high costs of maintaining an army. The societal structure restricted the size and mobility of armies, which were composed of local militias and knights bound to their lords.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Were Wars Smaller During the Middle Ages in Europe?
The size and scope of warfare during the European Middle Ages were influenced by various factors such as the feudal system, lack of centralized power, and limited resources. During this period, Europe was fragmented into various smaller feudal territories, each with their own local lord and militia, often composed of knights owing military service.
The lack of large, standing armies meant that conflicts were generally smaller and carried out by lesser numbers of professional soldiers or levied troops.
Additionally, the economy was primarily agrarian with limited production, so there wasn't a surplus to support large-scale, prolonged warfare. Societal organization through manorialism and feudalism meant that people, including soldiers, were bound to the land and their local lord, further restricting the potential scale of armies.
The high cost of equipping an army with the necessary armor, weapons, and provisions was also a limiting factor. The late medieval period did see some larger conflicts, such as the Hundred Years' War, where developments in military technology saw an increase in the use of gunpowder and firearms, making warfare more destructive on a larger scale.
However, this was the exception rather than the rule, and only came at the very end of the Middle Ages, ushering in the early modern period of warfare.