Evolution of Medieval Weapons

1
Evolution of Medieval Weapons

• By
• Drew Hayes

2
Importance of Weapons

• During medieval times empires and tribes were
  constantly at war with one another.
• Technology was very limited.
• Any new weapons that could be acquired would be
  considered a huge advantage
• Over time more complex and deadly weapons were
  developed.

3
Weapons Prior to Medieval Times

• Generally stone and wood were used to craft
  weapons
• These materials were difficult to produce and
  unreliable on the battlefield

4
Introduction of Metal Weapons

• The use of metal dramatically changed the number
  and type of weapons available
• These weapons were more reliable, accurate, and
  deadly than prior weapons

5
Knights Weapons
6
Swords

• Medieval swords were the primary weapons of the
  Knights.
• Medieval swords changed as Medieval Warfare and
  armor changed.
• 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-shaped sword
  that could thrust between the rings of chain mail
  more easily.
• The 13th century saw modification of swords,
  which could pierce a knights armor
• The names of the different Medieval swords
  included the Broadsword, Falchion sword,
  Longsword, Scimitar, and Greatsword.

7
Swords-Pictures
8
Battle 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

9
Battle Axes-Pictures
10
Crossbow

• 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

11
Crossbow-Pictures
12
Longbow

• A longbow 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, 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 cross section.
• Because the longbow can be made from a single
  piece of wood, it can be crafted relatively
  easily and quickly
• Longbows were more deadly than any other bow
  because they had further range, could reload
  faster, and were quieter
• This weapon was the most significant development
  during the 13th century

13
Longbow-Pictures
14
Siege Weapons
15
Trebuchet

• A trebuchet is a siege engine somewhat like a
  catapult that was employed in the Middle Ages
  either to smash giant walls or to throw
  projectiles over them
• The Trebuchet appeared in both Christian and
  Muslim lands around the Mediterranean in the
  twelfth century.
• It could fling up to three-hundred and fifty
  pound projectiles at high speeds into enemy
  fortifications.
• On occasion, disease-infected corpses were flung
  into cities in an attempt to infect or terrorize
  the people under siege

16
Trebuchet-Pictures
17
Mangonel

• A mangonel was a type of catapult or siege
  machine used in the medieval period to throw
  projectiles at a castle's walls.
• It consisted of a heavy frame which supported a
  long arm with a cup at the free end
• Mangonels shot heavy projectiles from a
  bowl-shaped bucket at the end of the arm. The
  bucket could launch more rocks than a sling which
  gave it an advantage
• The mangonel's principal role in battle,
  particularly medieval battle, was to knock down a
  castle or city's walls and infrastructure, not to
  kill/demoralize troops.

18
Mangonel-Pictures
19
Ballista

• A ballista was a siege engine in the form of a
  large bow which shot heavy arrows or stones
• The range was about 400 yards throwing a stone of
  60 pounds.
• Its power was derived from twisted ropes called
  skeins
• The early Roman ballista were made of wood, and
  held together with iron plates around the frames
  and iron nails in the stand. The main stand had a
  slider on the top, into which were loaded the
  bolts or stone.

20
Ballista-Pictures
21
Greek Fire

• This was a volatile combination of petroleum,
  oil, and other natural products
• It generated a highly flammable substance that
  burned on water and was excruciatingly hot
• Soldiers would turn to this as the enemy advanced
  closer and were trying to break down walls
• This substance was used to create incendiary
  arrows but could also be blown through tubes at
  close range

22
Greek Fire-Pictures
23
Battering Rams

• 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 empire
• Its primary use was against large doors because
  they were easier to breach than stone walls
• 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 more massive
  and also more easily swung against its target.
• Some battering rams were not slung from ropes or
  chains, but were instead supported by rollers.
  This allowed the ram to achieve a greater speed
  before striking its target and was therefore more
  destructive

24
Battering Ram-Pictures
25
Conclusion

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

26
Bibliography

• 1. Sheppard, Shirley Jean. "The Medieval World
  Series The Life of a Knight Life in a Castle
  Medieval Society Places of Worship in the Middle
  Ages Women and Girls in the Middle Ages
  Medieval Warfare.(Non-Fiction Preschool--Grade
  6)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book
  Review)."  Resource Links. 9. 3 (Feb 2004)
  25(2). Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale.
  Greater Atlanta Christian School. 27 Sep. 2009
  lthttp//find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?conte
  ntSetIAC-DocumentstyperetrievetabIDT003prodI
  dSRC-1docIdA114703937sourcegalesrcprodSRCG
  userGroupNamenorc72195version1.0gt.
• 2. Blademaster, Steve. "Medieval weapons and
  Tactics of the Knights." Www.buzzle.com. Steve
  Bladematser, 7 May 2008. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.
• 3. Hull, Lise. "Medieval Weaponry."
  Www.castles-of-britian.com. Lise Hull, 23 June
  2008. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.
• 4. Chrisp, Peter. Medieval Realms Warfare.
  Farmington Hills,Minnesota Hodder Wayland, 2004.
  Print
• 5. Grant, R.G. Warrior A Visual History of the
  Fighting Man. New York City Jonathan Metcalf,
  2007. Print
• Additional Sources
• "Medieval Weapons." Www.wikipedia.com. Ed.
  Various. Www.wikipedia.org. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.