Period weaponry

300 A.D. to 1600 A.D.

Late roman: 300-500 A.D.

Weapons:
Gladius(short sword), pilum(javelin/spear)
spatha(long sword)
Darts
Sling w/lead missiles
Short composite bow w/iron tip arrows
Axes

Dark ages 500-800 A.D.

Weapons:
Long iron sword (cast iron) made for slashing cuts.
Battle-axe
Hand axe
Heavy spear
Throwing spear
Large knife

Viking expantion:800-1000 A.D.

Weapons:
Broadsword (cast iron and mild steel) still made to cut not thrust.
Dane axe (two handed weapon)
Hand axe ( could be thrown)
Heavy spear
Throwing spear
Scramasax (large knife)
Short bow (limited use)

Middle ages: 1000-1350 A.D.

Weapons:
Long sword (iron and steel) Slashing and thrusting designs in use.
Two-handed swords come into use as steel replaces iron
Battle axes
Heavy spear
Lance is developed for mounted use
Longbow
Crossbow
Cannon ( first documented use 1326)
Cannon used by English at battle of Crecy 1346

High middle ages: 1350-1500 A.D.

Weapons:
Broadsword( steel)
Longsword w/point for thrusting.
Battle-axe
War hammer
Mace
Pike
Spear
Longbow
Crossbow
Heavy cavalry w/lances
Hand cannon 1328-1375
Hand gonnes and cannon in English use at Agincourt 1415
Armored knights defeated by archers and handgonnes.
Matchlock harquebus 1375-1411
Snapping matchlock musket 1470
Allows common foot soldiers to defeat heavily armored knights at a distance.
Cannon in use by all armies by1400.
Wheel lock musket in use 1500.

Nation Building 1500-1600 A.D.

Weapons:
Hand and a half swords
Two-handed swords
Battleaxes
War hammers
Maces
Longbows
Crossbows
Pike and musket formations
Light cavalry armed with wheel lock handguns and light lances 1540
Battle of Cerignola 1503 firearms make first big impact.
Wheel locks banned in Holy Roman Empire 1518.
Extensive use of mobile artillery
HenryVIII builds a series of Artillery fortifications in England.
Heavy armored knights obsolete.
Heavy Spanish musket in common use 1570
Battle of Lepanto 1571 Demise of the Oared Galley and Rise of the Heavily Gunned Galleon.
Spanish Armada 1588 English Race built Galleons with heavy culverins chase down heavy Spanish Galleons. English Culverins out match Spanish guns in range and accuracy.
Defeat of Armada begins English navel supremacy for next 300 years.

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