Table of Contents
What made swords so popular?
The primary advantage of a sword is it’s flexibility. It doesn’t stab as well as a spear but it can still stab. It can’t chop as well as an axe but it can still chop. It’s small enough that you can carry it with you anywhere but big enough that it gives you decent leverage and reach.
When did swords become popular?
The use of Damascus steel in swords became extremely popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was only from the 11th century that Norman swords began to develop the crossguard (quillons).
Why were spears more common than swords?
A spear has generally longer range, but a sword was easier to produce. And swords weren’t that bad. They were lighter, thus making medieval soldiers extremely nimble. And they could be maintained easier.
How was the sword used in the Middle Ages?
Starting from Europe, the sword in the Middle Ages was widely spread, had many variations and was actively used until the New Age. Throughout the Middle Ages, the sword has undergone very significant changes. The early Middle Ages was the era of the decline of military art, and oblivion of military traditions of classical antiquity.
What are some of the most unusual medieval weapons?
Emerging out of the Middle Ages, they were the weapons that ended the medieval way of fighting. A caltrop. Some more unusual weapons go largely unnoticed. The caustic powder quick lime was dropped on attackers in sieges and naval battles, getting through armor and clothing to burn eyes and skin.
What was the role of the pistol in medieval warfare?
In modern warfare, once the primary weapon is incapacitated, the pistol is the weapon to resort to. In the Medieval Period, the sword played that role. That began to change in the Late Middle Ages as armor became plated and shields became obsolete, and long swords became primary weapons for certain infantry.
Why did handguns become so popular in the Middle Ages?
The parallel development of handguns was equally important. Used in small numbers in the 14th and 15th centuries, they were becoming prevalent as the Middle Ages ended. Easier to use than bows, they let rulers field large armies with limited training, increasing the scale of war.