Medieval Weapons

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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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