Medieval Weapons
Weapons are the tools of today and the death of tomorrow. At one time all weapons were tools. They were a means of survival among a harsh planet and cruel animals. The age of knights changed the true meaning of these tools forever. They now possessed the power of life and the power of death. Europe was an ever-growing bushel of civilizations. These civilizations were always under threat from other growing civilizations. At this point tools became weapons. Weapons are the tools of life, and the objects of death.
The year is 1232. Somewhere in northern Europe, a Saxon castle is under attack. In the fields for miles around, thousands of soldiers viciously fight. Metal strikes metal, ...
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have a fulcrum, a resistance arm and an effort arm. Siege, or large-scale weapons, include catapults and battering rams. Melee weapons were, perhaps, the most important ones in any medieval battle. These weapons are also considered to be levers. They would be classified as third class levers.
The earliest melee weapons were clubs. Existing from Neanderthal times, these simple thick sticks were quickly replaced by blade weapons. However, some tribes continued to use clubs as throwing weapons. Others gave clubs to their leaders as batons of command. Still other tribes placed spikes on the ends of the clubs, turning them into maces. Soon enough, maces evolved into morning stars. These were much like maces, except there was a chain between the handle and the spiked head. These turned out to be cumbersome, and for the most part, ineffective, so they were retired to tournaments and torture chambers. Swords quickly became the most important weapon of medieval times. This weapon was ...
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pommel. Type three had fat guards, a simple, flat grip, and a smooth, round pommel. The scabbard was the tight case the sword was carried in. Its purpose was not only to protect the wearer and nearby people from the blade, but also to protect the sword, as swords were very valuable. The scabbard was made of thin wood slats, bound together with leather, parchment, linen, or velvet. It also had a fur or linen lining to protect the sword itself. The scabbard was mounted with metal chaps, with different kinds of mounting for each of the three kinds of hilt. Similar to swords was the elegant dagger. These miniaturized swords did not become important until the 12th or 13th century, at which time ...
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"Medieval Weapons." Essayworld.com. October 12, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Medieval-Weapons/15786.
"Medieval Weapons." Essayworld.com. October 12, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Medieval-Weapons/15786.
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