In medieval times, weapons and armor played a crucial role in the survival and lives of all social classes and types of people. Love and arms were used by all armies since medieval times. All men had to know how to fight. They were expected to be ready and available when called upon to fight for the king. Their lives were organized and structured to integrate military training into their daily lives. Weapons training was provided by the lords. The most valuable items to a knight were his armor, his weapons, and his war horse. These three items were very expensive, meaning only the wealthy could afford to become knights. Many knights hoped to recoup some of the prize money through plunder when they conquered enemy cities. In order to survive, weapons and armor became one of the most important aspects of life in medieval times. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the Middle Ages, where various weapons were used to fight, hunt, and overall survive. There was a sword, which is a long piece of forged metal. The word sword comes from the Old English “sweord” which comes from a Porto-Indo-European root “Swer” which means to cut or wound. Swords could be single or double bladed and straight or curved. There were four types of swords in the Middle Ages: arms, broadswords, falchions and longswords. “The Broadsword had a two-edged blade measuring 2 to 3 inches wide at the base and tapering to a point. The length of the Broadsword varied between 30 and 45 inches and weighed between 3 and 5 pounds. A Falchion sword was favored by some medieval knights who had participated in a crusade. Medieval Falchion swords had a short, heavy blade with a single edge. Longswords are also known as hand-and-a-half swords. The length of the longsword ranged from 44 to 50 inches. Arming swords were first used by early medieval knights and were also particularly favored by the Vikings. There were daggers and knives. A dagger is a double-edged blade used primarily for stabbing or thrusting. Daggers would act as a second defense in a fight. Knives were primarily used for cutting, rather than cutting food, nature, or a person. Where 4 types of daggers were used throughout the period. One type is known as Anelaces and was a long dagger and almost resembled a short sword. Another type was called Stilettos, which is a short blade with a long thin blade mainly used for stabbing. The last two types are Poigands and Rondels. Poigands are lightweight daggers with fanciful designs and were created during the Renaissance. A Rondel type dagger was an occasional blade and was most commonly carried by most people such as knights, merchants and even peasants. Armor played a crucial role in survival and there were a variety of types used. There are two most commonly used types of armor steel and leather. knights wore heavy metal armor. There are two main types of steel armor: chain mail and plate armor. Chainmail Chainmail was made up of thousands of metal rings. The typical chainmail armor was a long cloak called a hauberk. Knights wore a padded cape under the armor to help them support the weight of the armor. A chain mail hauberkcould weigh up to 30 pounds. Although chain mail was flexible and provided good protection, it could be pierced by an arrow or a thin sword. Some knights began placing metal plates over vital parts of their bodies for added protection. Soon they were completely covered in plate armor and they stopped wearing chain mail. (Price Brian “Reproduction Techniques of Medieval Love”) At this time, leather armor was one of the most popular types of armor. In the late Middle Ages, leather became less popular, but it still had its place in a soldier's combat gear. The reason leather armor was so popular was that it was cheap and very easy to find. Another reason leather armor was popular was that it did not require as much skill as rings or mail plates. A soldier could make his own repairs if necessary. Leather armor was generally used by the lower classes, although it was also used by some nobles who could not afford more expensive armor. Leather armor became less popular as chainmail and chainmail became cheaper, but a typical soldier still wore leather armor, even if it was just around his legs or under his chainmail of meshes. It also served as a base. The evolution of armor from the early to late Middle Ages saw major improvements while keeping the same basic ideas. Post, or chain mail, made of interlocking iron rings, is believed to have been invented in Eastern Europe around 500 BC. Gradually, additional small iron plates or discs were added to the mail to protect vulnerable areas. Hardened leather and splint construction were used for the arms and legs. A plate coat was developed that resembled armor made from large plates sewn into the inside of a leather coat. The first plaques in Italy and elsewhere between the 13th and 15th centuries were made of iron. Iron armor could be case hardened to give a harder steel surface. (Medieval review, “Evolution of armor through the Middle Ages”). Plate armor became cheaper than mail in the 15th century because it required less labor, and labor became much more expensive after the Black Death. Mail continued to be used to protect joints that could not be properly protected by plates. For example, the armpit, the crook of the elbow and the groin. Another advantage of the plates was that a spear rest could be installed on the breastplate. The small skull cap evolved into a larger true helmet, the pelvis, as it was extended downward to protect the back of the neck and sides of the head. Additionally, several new forms of fully enclosed helmets were introduced in the late 1300s. Probably the most recognized style of armor in the world is the plate armor associated with the knights of late medieval Europe. By 1400, the full harness of plate armor had been developed. Heavy cavalry has dominated the battlefield for centuries, in part because of its armor. At the beginning of the 15th century, advances in weaponry allowed infantry to defeat armored knights on the battlefield. The quality of metal used in armor deteriorated as armies became larger and armor became thicker. If in the 14th and 15th centuries, armor rarely weighed more than 15 kg, at the end of the 16th century, it weighed 25 kg. (Medieval review “Evolution of armor throughout the Middle Ages”)..