| The medieval time period within European | | | | the nature of the world we live in has conditioned |
| countries is certainly largely responsible for shaping | | | | us to develop ways of protecting ourselves from |
| key modern developments which have proven | | | | attack. Alongside this, our need to sustain |
| vital to Europe's identity even in today's world. | | | | ourselves and therefore hunt, find shelter and |
| Art, literature and music all benefited from pivotal | | | | protect our offspring has compelled us to |
| changes which famously influenced cultures across | | | | compete with fellow animals for the safest places |
| the continent. Likewise so did the world-class | | | | to stay, most lucrative places to find food, and |
| technologies which included adjustments to | | | | indeed defend our young by whatever means |
| designs in the weaponry which was customary at | | | | possible from hungry predators and aggressive |
| the time. Short and sharp Romanesque daggers | | | | neighbors. Arguably our first weapon was our |
| became sleeker, but still retained their slender | | | | own skills in fighting, including basic punching, |
| appealing shape. Moreover not only did they keep | | | | scratching, biting, and the like. But soon man |
| but they heightened the quality of the handling of | | | | turned towards items which would have been at |
| the sword, making it more lightweight and as a | | | | his disposal at the time to help him firstly defend |
| result swifter and therefore far more lethal. | | | | himself, and secondly attack his opponent. While |
| Nevertheless, these changes still did not | | | | this would have begun with rocks and sticks, it |
| compromise the popularity of this particular | | | | eventually developed to using sharp objects and |
| sword, but instead transformed it into the latest | | | | even fire to inflict as much pain and cause as |
| advancement in hand held weaponry. | | | | much damage as possible. |
| Our fascination with weaponry has indeed | | | | Once we became sophisticated enough to see the |
| continued and perhaps even increased since. How | | | | value in sharpening rocks and stones, it was only |
| many people out there are always searching for | | | | a matter of time before the basic sword took |
| twentieth-century weapons and defense | | | | shape. Starting with heavy wooden swords, which |
| mechanisms, such as machine guns, gas masks, | | | | were clunky and difficult to handle, over the |
| grenades and tanks? Of course these are far | | | | centuries and the development and widespread |
| easier to get hold of than items from far and | | | | use of metalwork, swords were able to become |
| distant centuries. This has meant that old | | | | more efficient, as they were now lighter, sharper |
| weapons have become highly collectible pieces, | | | | and more durable. Although this was the case for |
| and moreover it could actually make some of | | | | a while before the medieval period, it was then, |
| them quite valuable. So why do we have such an | | | | with its numerous battles across the continent, |
| obsession with weapons? And why are we so | | | | that skills in sword fighting became highly |
| keen on medieval weapons in particular? I thought | | | | important and therefore popular. It is for this |
| I'd spend some time considering some of the | | | | reason that sleek and attractive swords have |
| possible answers to these questions. | | | | become associated with medieval times, and |
| Throughout history mankind's survival has | | | | likewise the vibrant and complex history of the |
| depended on its ability to defend itself. Whether | | | | time has made medieval weaponry, especially |
| this has been shielding ourselves from the harsh | | | | swords, such popular collectibles today. |
| elements, other animals or indeed other people, | | | | |