Needless to say, people in this era were prepared for an eventuality of war at every waking moment of their lives. Those refusing to oblige were captured and sentenced to brutal punishment. People paid for their own lands and serviced the army of state in some way or the other. On the higher level, the king was supreme and had the hold on life of his subjects in every way possible. The rise of feudalism in this era meant, people were forced out of their homes, and their lands invaded by feudal lords. Weapons were out at slightest hint of danger and men were slain for the pettiest of reasons. Your browser does not support the audio element.Medieval period, which is characterized by bloodshed and violence, is arguably the darkest and gloomiest era in the history of mankind. Listen to a recorded reading of this page:.
Medieval weapons list how to#
Knights also had to know how to use siege weapons. The horse also wore armor for protection including metal plates to cover its neck, head, and sides. The knight's war horse was called a destrier. A good war horse could mean the difference between life and death for a knight. It wouldn't shy away from blood or combat. One of the knight's most important possessions was his war horse. The longbow could attack from a distance or a castle wall. However, the longbow became a major part of winning battles in the Middle Ages. Longbow - Many knights considered the longbow to be a cowardly weapon.These weapons were designed to crush an enemy. Mace - The mace was a club with a big steel head.Some knights preferred a one-handed sword and a shield, while others preferred a larger two-handed sword. Sword - The sword was the preferred weapon once the knight had dismounted or if his lance was broken during battle.The lance could also be used to knock enemy knights off of their horses. This gave the knight a serious advantage against foot soldiers. Because the lance was so long, the knight could attack from his horse.
Lance - The lance was a long wooden pole with a metal tip and hand guards.Some weapons were more effective when charging on a horse (like the lance), while others were better for hand to hand combat (like the sword). Knights of the Middle Ages used a variety of weapons. Soon they were completely covered in plate armor and they stopped wearing chain mail.įrom the Walters Art Museum (labels by Ducksters) Weapons Some knights began to put plates of metal over vital parts of their bodies for added protection. A chain mail hauberk could weigh as much as 30 pounds.Īlthough chain mail was flexible and offered good protection, it could be pierced by an arrow or thin sword. Knights wore a padded cloak underneath the armor to help cushion the weight of the armor. The typical chain mail armor was a long cloak called a hauberk. There were two main kinds of armor: chain mail and plate armor.Ĭhain mail was made from thousands of metal rings. Many knights hoped to regain some of the cost through plunder when they conquered enemy towns and cities.ĭuring the Middle Ages knights wore heavy armor made of metal. These three items were very expensive, meaning that only the wealthy could afford to be knights. The most valuable items to a knight were his armor, weapons, and his war horse.
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