ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pike and shot

Okay kiddo, have you heard of soldiers who fought with swords and shields a long time ago? Well, when people started using big guns and muskets to shoot from far away, they had to change the way they fought. That's when pike and shot came into play.

Pike is like a really big stick with a pointy end that is used to defend against enemy soldiers who are charging towards you. Shot is what they called the musket balls or the bullets that were shot from the guns. The pikes would protect the men carrying the muskets while they shot at the enemy from a distance.

The way pike and shot armies were organized was quite clever. They would have rows of soldiers with pikes in the front, protecting the people behind them who had muskets. The soldiers with muskets would shoot at the enemy from behind the pikes. Then, when the enemy got close, the soldiers with pikes would start poking the enemy with their big sticks to keep them at bay.

This type of warfare was really effective because it combined long-range firepower with the protection of the pikes. It was used by many armies in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.

So, there you have it, a quick explanation of pike and shot. It was a smart way of fighting that helped soldiers protect themselves while using guns to take down their enemies.