Understanding Sword Designs Throughout History

Posted by lisa1988ann on May 23rd, 2013

As one of the most basic weapons, swords have been around for thousands of years, in one form or another. However, while most people have an idea of what a sword consists of, there are hundreds of variations in sword forms and types. The sword is a true identifier of its time as it changed throughout history to remain a lethal weapon. One of the periods where a great deal of change was especially seen was in the later Medieval ages to the Renaissance era. 

Medieval swords and their basic design can be traced to the spatha, and it borrows much of the same design elements. During the later half of the 10th century, smiths found that steel could be quenched hardened and tempered to provide a high quality metal. Although more resistant to breaking, they had a sharp edge and a powerful blow. During the later years of the Medieval period, armor styles changed from the chain mail to less heavy plate armor. Plate armor gave the wearer increased protection. 

Due to the change in armor, sword designs also had to change. The medieval warrior had to deliver a powerful blow in order to be effective in battle. The hand and half sword allowed the bearer to have increased power and could be held in both hands, proving to be more lethal in battle. The greatsword or the two-handed sword also developed during the latter half of the medieval period. Since power was increasingly more important than agility, the single-edged sword became significantly more popular. These swords needed to deliver a powerful blow that would impact a fighter through the thick armor. 

As time passed and the warring Middle Ages moved into the more peaceful Renaissance period, there was a decrease in wars and soldiers began wearing armor less frequently. The rapier took center stage. It is a single-handed sword developed in Spain originally in the 1500s as a dress sword. Since the warriors of that time still preferred to be armed, they took to wearing rapiers. The rapier was a unique weapon and became a popular among civilians as well for self-defense and dueling. 

The main advantage of a rapier is that it has a thin blade, is designed to be single-handed, and is specifically designed for thrusting rather than cutting. Usually less than 2.5 centimeters in length, it was designed to be needle-sharp, although it did not have even a quarter of the power of the medieval swords that came before the rapier. Since armor was not being commonly worn, the rapier proved to be a lethal weapon during the Renaissance period. Another interesting feature of the rapier is its hilt. It was designed to protect the bearer's hand and began as a number of rings, but eventually progressed to the Spanish cup hilt, which protects the dueler's hand with a hemispherical cup. 

As the tumultuous period of the Middle Ages transitioned into the more peaceful Renaissance period, medieval swords also saw a transition from bulky, powerful weapons, to more lithe, graceful swords. In this way, swords have a unique way of reflecting both the culture of a people and the changing times.

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