Evolution of Medieval Evolution of Medieval WeaponsWeapons

By:By:

Drew HayesDrew Hayes

Importance of WeaponsImportance of Weapons

During medieval times empires and tribes During medieval times empires and tribes were constantly at war with one another.were constantly at war with one another.

Technology was very limited.Technology was very limited.

Any new weapons that could be acquired Any new weapons that could be acquired would be considered a huge advantagewould be considered a huge advantage

Over time more complex and deadly Over time more complex and deadly weapons were developed.weapons were developed.

Weapons Prior to Medieval Weapons Prior to Medieval TimesTimes

Generally stone and wood were used Generally stone and wood were used to craft weaponsto craft weapons

These materials were difficult to These materials were difficult to produce and unreliable on the produce and unreliable on the battlefieldbattlefield

Introduction of Metal Introduction of Metal WeaponsWeapons

The use of metal dramatically The use of metal dramatically changed the number and type of changed the number and type of weapons available weapons available

These weapons were more reliable, These weapons were more reliable, accurate, and deadly than prior accurate, and deadly than prior weapons weapons

Knight’s WeaponsKnight’s Weapons

SwordsSwords Medieval swords were the primary weapons of the Knights.Medieval swords were the primary weapons of the Knights.

Medieval swords changed as Medieval Warfare and armor changed.Medieval swords changed as Medieval Warfare and armor changed.

At the beginning of the Middle Ages a double edged slashing sword At the beginning of the Middle Ages a double edged slashing sword was used but as time went by it evolved into a stronger, diamond-was used but as time went by it evolved into a stronger, diamond-shaped sword that could thrust between the rings of chain mail more shaped sword that could thrust between the rings of chain mail more easily.easily.

The 13The 13thth century saw modification of swords, which could pierce a century saw modification of swords, which could pierce a knight’s armor knight’s armor

The names of the different Medieval swords included the The names of the different Medieval swords included the Broadsword, Falchion sword, Longsword, Scimitar, and Greatsword.Broadsword, Falchion sword, Longsword, Scimitar, and Greatsword.

Swords-PicturesSwords-Pictures

Battle AxesBattle Axes Battle Axes were weapons that were designed as single and double-handed

battle axes. They were used as a close contact weapon in the early Medieval period of

the Middle Ages and could apply tremendous blows but could also be hurled as a projectile.

Axes designed in warfare ranged from 1 to 6 pounds and was at a length of up to 30 cm

Battle axes were an improvement from splitting axes due to the fact that battle axes were meant to cut through limbs and create devastating blows rather than cut wood

Battle Axes-PicturesBattle Axes-Pictures

CrossbowCrossbow

a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista.

This weapon was used by almost every army or empire

The crossbow gave a great advantage to whomever used it because you could shoot it from far range and it was easy to reload

Crossbow-PicturesCrossbow-Pictures

LongbowLongbow A A llongbow is a type of bow that is tall (roughly equal to the height ongbow is a type of bow that is tall (roughly equal to the height

of a person who uses it) this will allow its user a fairly long draw, of a person who uses it) this will allow its user a fairly long draw, at least to the jaw. A longbow is not significantly recurved. Its at least to the jaw. A longbow is not significantly recurved. Its limbs are relatively narrow so that they are circular or D-shaped in limbs are relatively narrow so that they are circular or D-shaped in

cross section.cross section. Because the longbow can be made from a single piece of wood, it Because the longbow can be made from a single piece of wood, it

can be crafted relatively easily and quicklycan be crafted relatively easily and quickly

Longbows were more deadly than any other bow because they Longbows were more deadly than any other bow because they

had further range, could reload faster, and were quieterhad further range, could reload faster, and were quieter

This weapon was the most significant development during the 13This weapon was the most significant development during the 13thth centurycentury

Longbow-PicturesLongbow-Pictures

Siege WeaponsSiege Weapons

TrebuchetTrebuchet A trebuchet is a siege engine somewhat like a catapult that A trebuchet is a siege engine somewhat like a catapult that

was employed in the Middle Ages either to smash giant was employed in the Middle Ages either to smash giant walls or to throw projectiles over themwalls or to throw projectiles over them

The TrebuchetThe Trebuchet appeared in both Christian and Muslim lands appeared in both Christian and Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the twelfth century.around the Mediterranean in the twelfth century.

It could fling up to three-hundred and fifty pound It could fling up to three-hundred and fifty pound projectiles at high speeds into enemy fortifications.projectiles at high speeds into enemy fortifications.

On occasion, disease-infected corpses were flung into cities On occasion, disease-infected corpses were flung into cities

in an attempt to infect or terrorize the people under siegein an attempt to infect or terrorize the people under siege

Trebuchet-PicturesTrebuchet-Pictures

MangonelMangonel A mangonel was a type of catapult or siege machine used A mangonel was a type of catapult or siege machine used

in the medieval period to throw projectiles at a castle's in the medieval period to throw projectiles at a castle's

walls.walls. It consisted of a heavy frame which supported a long arm It consisted of a heavy frame which supported a long arm

with a cup at the free endwith a cup at the free end Mangonels shot heavy projectiles from a bowl-shaped Mangonels shot heavy projectiles from a bowl-shaped

bucket at the end of the arm. The bucket could launch bucket at the end of the arm. The bucket could launch more rocks than a sling which gave it an advantage more rocks than a sling which gave it an advantage

The mangonel's principal role in battle, particularly The mangonel's principal role in battle, particularly medieval battle, was to knock down a castle or city's walls medieval battle, was to knock down a castle or city's walls

and infrastructure, not to kill/demoralize troops.and infrastructure, not to kill/demoralize troops.

Mangonel-PicturesMangonel-Pictures

BallistaBallista A ballista was a siege engine in the form of a large bow A ballista was a siege engine in the form of a large bow

which shot heavy arrows or stoneswhich shot heavy arrows or stones

The range was about 400 yards throwing a stone of 60 The range was about 400 yards throwing a stone of 60 pounds.pounds.

Its power was derived from twisted ropes called skeinsIts power was derived from twisted ropes called skeins

The early Roman ballista were made of wood, and held The early Roman ballista were made of wood, and held together with iron plates around the frames and iron nails together with iron plates around the frames and iron nails in the stand. The main stand had a slider on the top, into in the stand. The main stand had a slider on the top, into which were loaded the bolts or stone. which were loaded the bolts or stone.

Ballista-PicturesBallista-Pictures

Greek FireGreek Fire

This was a volatile combination of petroleum, oil, This was a volatile combination of petroleum, oil, and other natural productsand other natural products

It generated a highly flammable substance that It generated a highly flammable substance that burned on water and was excruciatingly hotburned on water and was excruciatingly hot

Soldiers would turn to this as the enemy advanced Soldiers would turn to this as the enemy advanced closer and were trying to break down wallscloser and were trying to break down walls

This substance was used to create incendiary This substance was used to create incendiary arrows but could also be blown through tubes at arrows but could also be blown through tubes at close range close range

Greek Fire-PicturesGreek Fire-Pictures

Battering RamsBattering Rams A battering ram has a sharp end , and the objective of it was to A battering ram has a sharp end , and the objective of it was to

break away stones so that infantry could breach a castle or an break away stones so that infantry could breach a castle or an empireempire

Its primary use was against large doors because they were easier Its primary use was against large doors because they were easier to breach than stone wallsto breach than stone walls

In a more sophisticated design, a battering ram was slung from a In a more sophisticated design, a battering ram was slung from a wheeled support frame by ropes or chains so that it could be much wheeled support frame by ropes or chains so that it could be much more massive and also more easily swung against its target. more massive and also more easily swung against its target.

Some battering rams were not slung from ropes or chains, but Some battering rams were not slung from ropes or chains, but were instead supported by rollers. This allowed the ram to achieve were instead supported by rollers. This allowed the ram to achieve a greater speed before striking its target and was therefore more a greater speed before striking its target and was therefore more destructivedestructive

Battering Ram-PicturesBattering Ram-Pictures

ConclusionConclusion

All of these weapons seen in this All of these weapons seen in this presentation were used all over the presentation were used all over the world. They all were a vital part of an world. They all were a vital part of an empire’s victory against it’s enemy. empire’s victory against it’s enemy. Eventually though, a new age Eventually though, a new age appeared as gunpowder was created appeared as gunpowder was created in the 16in the 16thth century, which took war to century, which took war to a whole new level.a whole new level.

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