Final answer:
The New Model Army distinguished itself from medieval armies through its professional structure, discipline, infantry-focused tactics, and the concept of a standing army that reduced the military prominence of the nobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences Between the New Model Army and Medieval Armies
The New Model Army, established during the English Civil War, represented an innovative shift from the feudal armies of the medieval period. While medieval armies were mainly composed of nobles who served as cavalry, the New Model Army was a professional army led by experienced leaders such as Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. The medieval armies often consisted of feudal levies, with knights and mounted troops dominating the battlefield. However, the New Model Army was a disciplined, centrally organized force paid by Parliament. Moreover, their effective use of infantry and groundbreaking tactics, such as the flanking maneuvers and volley fire, distinguished them from their predecessors.
Medieval military tactics, as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, often relied on the cavalry's ability to scatter enemy defenses. Yet, the New Model Army deemphasized the role of cavalry in favor of disciplined ranks of pikemen and musketeers trained to work in concert. This shift demonstrated a departure from reliance on noble cavalry, allowing for greater social mobility among the ranks as common soldiers could now rise through merit. The New Model Army significantly contributed to ending the Royalists' rule and establishing the precedent for later professional armies.