In all periods of history humanity has used weaponry to solve disputes and to conquer. While the intention has remained relatively similar throughout all ages, the weapons used in the fighting have evolved as humanity and the technology it possesses have grown and changed. From simple no frills weapons such as clubs and wooden spears, to artistic weapons such as medieval swords which are valued as much for their effectiveness as their appearance, to guns and cannons, the types of weapons found throughout history are as varied as the cultures who developed them.
Prehistoric Weapons
It has been observed that the use of weapons can be traced back to around five million years ago. These weapons include basic wooden clubs, stones, and throwing sticks. Recovered between 1995 and 1998 are spears dated to be around 400,000 years old. These eight spears are known as the Schonlnger Speere collection and were most likely used primarily for hunting. 150,000 years later spears were improved upon when people began using fire-hardening techniques on the tips.
A spear throwing tool called an atlatl is believed to have been used as far back as 30,000 years ago. The atlatl was used to help propel darts a greater distance than hand throwing would allow by using leverage to it's advantage. The oldest atlatl found to date was discovered in France and is dated to around 17,500 years ago and was made of an antler.
- Weapons: Their Place in the Prehistoric Era This link gives an account on the weapons used by the Sumerians, the Egyptians, the Assyrians and the Greeks. It also explores the weapons of the middle ages.
- A Close Look at the Vikings, their Weapons and Warfare This website gives descriptive information on the Vikings, their weaponry and battles.
- Weapons that Bring an Impact This article shows what old fashion weapons were like and how they was made during the time when men used bats and sticks as weapons.
Ancient and Classical Weapons
The use of metals to make tools and weapons greatly improved upon the ideas of many of the weapons which could be found in prehistoric times. Copper was the first metal to be used in the making of weapons, followed by the use of bronze (a combinations of copper and tin). Around the 17th century B.C. Bronze Age swords were in use. These swords were short swords, ranging from around 20 to 35 inches in length and were designed to be effective in thrusting and cutting. By the 8th century B.C. the most commonly used material in the making of swords was iron. They were not significantly more effective then bronze swords but the iron swords were more easily produced and iron was also much easier to find. Around 600 to 500 B.C. daggers replaced most swords.
- Weapons of Ancient Egypt This link gives an interesting list of all the weapons used by the Egyptians when going into a brutal fight.
- Ancient Weapons of the Military An interesting article that discusses the Viking military and what unique weapons they used in making their conquests.
- The Greek Military and Their Weapons of Choice Article is on the topic of the Greek Naval. It explores their battles, their crew and weaponry.
Weapons of the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, much of the weaponry that was used was used by knights and soldiers trained to fight on foot. Knights who fought on horseback used lances. Lances were a weapon effective in charging on groups of enemies and were often larger and heavier than most of it's spear like predecessors. After the intital charge the knights would switch to other melee weapons such as swords. The infantrymen would often use sturdy and practical weapons such as spears, batons, battle-axes and warhammers for close combat and bows for ranged combat.
- Types of Weapons Used during the Middle Ages this website looks into the middle ages and the weaponry used during that period. It gives detailed information on the weapons used as well as what the military consisted of.
- Swords, Bows and Other Medieval Weapons An interesting site that writes about the weapons that used during the medieval times. Each weapon is explained and described in detail.
- The Weapons of Medieval Warriors Article discusses the medieval warrior and what arms he used when going into battle.
Early Modern Weaponry
As the middle ages transformed into the early modern era, weapons again took on a new look. Spears, lances and batons took a backseat to more advance weapons used in warfare. These new weapons were guns that used gunpowder propel bullets to bring down and destroy enemies. One early firearm was the arquebus which was effective at piercing plate armour at close range. This weapon was used between the 15th and 17th centuries and can be considered a predecessor to the rifle and other long firearms.
Other weapons in use on the battlefield were the matchlock musket, the flintlock, the bayonet and the grenade, which made its appearance during the 17th century.
- The Modern Military, Weapons and Tactics An interesting article that discusses not only the weapons, but also the tactics used with the modern military.
- Protecting the Seacoast with Artillery Weapons An interesting article that discusses how the coasts and shorelines are protected with artillery weapons. It has photos of weapons used for just this purpose.
Weapons of the World Wars
Just prior to the first World War, edged weapons such as swords mostly fell out of use. While daggers and swords were carried by some soldiers during the war, automatic rifles, pistols, and bayonets were more commonly used. It was during this period that the machine gun made its debut on the battlefield. It was also during World War I that flame throwers were first used by the German Army. Poison gas was also used as a weapon during World War I for in 1915, Germany came up with the first chemical weapon used on a large scale, that of chlorine gas.
In World War II the weapons used by soldiers included more advanced handguns, rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, rocket launchers, flame throwers, fragmentation hand grenades (Mk II), anti-tank guns, and more. Weapons used by the Chinese during the second world war included close quarters weapons such as the Dadao, the Miao Dao, spears (Qiang), as well as rifles and bayonets. War vehicles and aircraft were also much more important during World War II than they had been previously. Not surprisingly the most powerful weapon of World War II was the atomic bomb.
- Weapons Used During World War 1 An interesting site that looks at the First World War and the weapons used.
- The Flamethrower of World War 2 This website is full of photos that show soldiers using the flamethrower when in war. Article discusses the Flamethrower, explaining its use in battle.
The Nuclear Age
Warfare has changed quite a bit since the prehistoric days and the use of ancient and medieval weapons. Warfare of this age includes that of the Glide, the Felix and the Razon, which are all guided bombs used to wipe out and destroy enemies. After World War II the former Soviet Union and the United States entered a race to out-develop each other as far as nuclear weaponry was concerned creating weapons that would cause the destruction of the entire planet. After realizing this, focus shifted back to conventional arms technologies as opposed to nuclear technologies.
- Chemical Reactions Used in War This article discuses when Chemical weapons were first used and by who. Photos are included depicting the aftermath of chemical weapons.
- Nuclear Assault with Arsenal This article comes with photo showing the arsenal used in the nuclear age of weapons and war. It names several types of arsenal and gives a description of their use.
Article written by Janice D. McDonald