From the knight’s point of view, at least, the root cause of change was the cost of doing business. Fighting in the saddle was beastly expensive. At the turn of the first millennium, a single, fully equipped mounted warrior would need at least three horses, mail armor, a helmet, weapons including lances, a sword, an ax or mace, dagger, underclothing, several tents and flags, and one or more assistants who needed to be supplied with grooming tools, cooking utensils, food, and drink. This was no small outlay. To supply and sustain a single knight for one year cost approximately as much as
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