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Medieval Spanish Weaponry

January 15, 2012 By 1 Comment

f_11324495816_weaponry.jpgIt was during the middle age period when Spain just like other countries in the world experienced outrageous combats among realms, countries and warlords. As a result, Spaniards came up with assorted armour to protect their next of kin as well as their properties from budding rivals. Gradually, the various forms of armour used became obsolete with introduction of sophisticated and enhanced brands.

To add to the reinforcement of the kingdom’s soldiers, the commonplace citizens were also required to participate in battles to boost the efficiency of soldiers and protect their kingdom. Gambesons were the padded garbs that were the earliest form of armour employed by the knights in the medieval epoch.

They were made of steel and were worn in form of leggings and shirts. They included woven rivets to prevent the spread of intertwined rings made from heavy steel metal.

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Enchanting Medieval Extremadura

This Spanish region comprises only Caceres and Badajoz provinces. Its capital is Merida in Badajoz. This region is an interesting historical sight of Roman ruins. It was the Romans who placed Extremadura region into history as Merida was made to be one of the Roman Empire’s most essential cities. However, the region fell into the hands of the Moors before changing hands to the Spanish Christians. This toggle of reign between the two powers continued for quite some time. Spain – Medieval Extremadura

This Spanish arena comprises alone Caceres and Badajoz provinces. Its basic is Merida in Badajoz. This arena is an absorbing actual afterimage of Roman ruins. Medieval Weekends in Spain

If you enjoy all things medieval, then you should consider spending a weekend enjoying Medieval Spain. The Spanish Regal Family

The Imperial family of the Kingdom of Spain has been in existence for the longest time compared to other European royalties.The main weapons used in battles included batons, bows and arrows, billhooks, daggers, war axes and spears just to mention a few.

The Knights’ armour

The Chain mail body armour progressively died away as a result of invention of artillery capable of harming a solider wearing it. The Chain Mail became less protective against enhanced weapons such as the cross and long bows. It was this that led to the contraption of the knight armour. The defensive armour was fabricated as a suit and cost a fortune.

To guarantee comfort to the knight at the time of the battle, the suit was custom made for a knight so that it could fit perfectly to enable the knight to counter enemy attacks without any hindrance.

The Armour as the Status Emblem

The protective as well as defensive armour used by a knight was emblematic of the class or ranking of the Knight.
A knight equipped with enhanced armour implements was worth more and stood better chances of surviving a weapon attack from the enemy side in a battle.

Protective armour for various Body Parts

An assortment of armour implements was used to protect various body parts. The region of the body below the waistline was covered with cuisses and poleyns to shield the knee caps and thighs correspondingly. Greaves on the other hand protected the ankles. Rerebraces and Vambraces were used to protect the hands of the knights.

The chest and back were undoubtedly the most susceptible for attack and breastplates and back plates ensured that the knight was safe during a battle. Helmets with a clip-on visor were used to protect the head.

Museums across Spain are excellent places to access both theoretical and visual facts regarding medieval artillery.   
 

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The Development of Oriental Weaponry

January 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

f_21324496480_weapons.jpgAlthough the development of man’s resources varied enormously throughout the world, there seems to be little variation in the kinds of weaponry which were made and used. There are several possible explanations for this.

Firstly it may be that the materials available and the physical environments were similar. Secondly, it is possible that the process of trial and error, which is an integral part of any discovery, produces similar results in dissimilar contexts. Thirdly, cultural contact, through invasion or commerce, may have offered the opportunity for some peoples to incorporate some features of the weapons of others, or copy them entirely. It is likely however that it is a combination of all three factors which has resulted in these similarities.

Weapons can be divided into two main categories. The first, indirect weapons, contains those which either fire a projectile to destroy their prey, or are the instrument of destruction themselves. These include stones, catapults, spears, bows and arrows, throwing sticks, light and heavy artillery, and finally rockets and bombs. The effectiveness of these weapons depends largely upon how accurately and how far the missile can travel without losing its impact.

The second category contains those weapons which are normally wielded by an individual in close combat. They could also be thrown but this would greatly reduce their effectiveness. This group is known as direct and includes clubs, knives, swords, sticks, flails and bayonets. In the course of the history of weaponry, the weapons in these categories have been both individually employed and used in conjunction, with equal effect. The relative advantages in using direct or indirect types, depend entirely on the demands of the situation.

Throughout history, in every culture, warriors have appreciated the importance of practice in the successful handling of weaponry, as well as to the development and perfection of new combat techniques. Through trial and error, they incorporated the most successful moves and strikes into their combat repertoire eventually adopting them permanently. Attacks, blocks and counters were studied and experimented with before being tried in real combat, since in a life and death situation a wrong move or strike, or even a poorly practiced combination, could result in serious injury or death.

Effective weapons and techniques were the result of the adaptation of the farming implements and household tools used by the peasants, both to till their soil and to defend their homes and p’roperty. Their effectiveness was constantly proven in combat situations, and alternative defensive practices became incorporated into the use of weaponry as a result.

Many of these skills and weapons, created out of necessity, have become obsolete in modern times. It is only now that there is a general revival of interest in mastering combat techniques. Some of the weapons, such as the rifle, bow and arrow and pistol, have been adopted for use in modern sporting competitions and have thus continued to develop and improve, but many others have fallen into disuse and the skills forgotten.

 

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Weaponry From Hawaii

January 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

f_01324496639_kgrhqzhjc4e7bcvitwobo6r-hrsg60-3.jpgMuch of ancient Hawaiian history remains unknown, from the legend of the tiki Gods to where the people themselves originated. Europeans’ insight into this unique culture began only a few centuries ago, leaving earlier history shrouded in history. One of our first accounts of Hawaii comes from Captain James Cook, who wrote about the islands after stopping there in 1778.
Among the many insights he offered into Hawaiian culture was the relative brutality and the weaponry he encountered in his explorations, which had never before been seen in Europe. The feudal culture of Ancient Hawaii was no doubt a dangerous place. Modern scholars believe that ancient Hawaiian warriors would probably have given the Spartans a run for their money. Those warriors, called

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