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Alessandro Marcelo Bautista Katrine Mendoza Independent Research Project (IRE) February 11, 2014 Swords and their Historical Significance

In many cultures, the sword was the most respected weapon in history. Their makers made them with such skill it became an object of desire. The sword was a weapon that represented honor, justice, and the fight against evil. This weapon has influenced great moments in history, and inspired famous myths and legends. Some of the famous moments in history would be the Crusades, where Christian and Muslims used a very unique sword to show their faith. Other famous legends include King Arthur, Samurais, The 47 Ronin, and many others. Today there are many reminders of our sword fighting past. A man buttons his coat left over right, leaving his right hand free to draw his sword. We shake hands to show were not armed. A gentleman escorts a lady with the right arm, because his sword hangs on his left. Swords: Complete History of Swords. The sword was an iconic symbol of war that would bring many victories and defeats. And, it was the longest living weapon used by man, but how did this extraordinary weapon come to be?

Bautista 2 During prehistoric times, mankind was very vulnerable compared to wild animals. Our bodies never had any special features to defend ourselves from other organisms. However as time went by, we began to learn from our mistakes. Our minds began to develop, taking in every bit of information that surrounded us. Soon we were able to adapt, our instincts told us to forge something to protect ourselves. It was there the first weapons of man were made to serve their purpose. During the Stone Age, it was a simple style of refuge. Man lived in the rock formed caves, making light from firewood they gathered from forests. Their food source was gained from hunting, and gathering as a group. One man cannot hope to survive the brutal attacks of the wild animals. This gave birth to making the mans first weapons. The first weapons of man consist of simple designs, such as knives, hammers, and spears. These weapons would be made from flint or stone, attached to pieces of wood. The cutting edge honed on these weapons was made using bones from decomposed animals. The bone would scrape and shape the edge of these weapons, allowing the hunters to have a sharp edge against predators. This paper will now discuss the evolution that swords went through. As man came out of the Stone Age, they sought out to refine their weapons. The reason being, that humankind has become territorial with their lands. Small villages began to grow in places where mankind first migrated to different parts of the world from Africa. The discovery of metals aided in their quest to refine their old weapons. Man started with stones they used as knives and daggers. These daggers were short, close range weapons; used

Bautista 3 to cut, stab, and pierce. They thought of making a new kind of weapon, one based on the design of the dagger. They thought of making a longer and larger blade, hence the birth of the sword. The early stages of making swords, finding the right materials were needed. Man used the first metals they could find, such as copper to make the first weapons. However each material used would also have its own flaw while making the first swords. For one thing, copper was too soft making the blade too dull to use in combat. However, as time passed man found a formula to make a new metal which was bronze. Mixing copper with tin created this much more harder substance, bringing people to the Bronze Age. Bronze was used in swords during the early B.C using them in both their weapons and tools. However bronze was still soft kind of metal, affecting the durability of the blade. Man was able to find a new metal that came from the east, which was Iron. Iron was a more flexible and harder than bronze, bringing mankind to the Iron Age. Still, a need to strengthen their blades was needed. When iron was mixed with carbon, a new alloy was made which was Steel. Steel, was harder than iron and bronze, its durability can be increased when the metal is cooled immediately. The sword was a very important weapon, to many warriors and cultures. It was a weapon that many cultures respected for honor and dignity. Each warrior would treat his sword with respect; even the swords maker is given credit for its craftsmanship. Those warriors would live and die by the sword, as their status would let other people show them respect.

Bautista 4 Many warriors of different cultures would sometimes use it to fight for their honor. Knights and Samurai warriors are good examples of showing honor in battle. When a knight is touched with a sword, he is knighted into knighthood. However when a knight breaks his own sword, it shows he is disgraced and causes great battles to end. Samurai take a very high level of responsibility with their honor. They would fight for their masters, and perform hara-kiri to avoid being captured by the enemies. Samurai with no master are called Ronin, who wander around the country and fight in battles needed. This has been discussing about man and swords, but how did our ancestors really go through our history and the significance of swords in their lives? How was it made? Swords are not always the same, and come in many different shapes and sizes. Many cultures have their own interpretations of how their swords would look like. Some would look like the Christian cross or the Muslim crescent moon as seen during the time of the Crusaders. As a symbol of their faith, both parties designed their swords as such. A lot of sword designs were made to have a swords unique function and symbolism. The uniqueness of a certain tribe or nationality is shown not only thru their clothes but also down to the weapons they bring, specifically, swords. What is interesting about people and their swords is that at times, swords are treated as if it was the mans soul and/or identity. The sword like the katana of Japan shows that firmly. The samurais of Japan hold their katana as if it was their soul to the extent that they keep it near them even as they sleep.

Bautista 5 There are also instances for which men bury their swords with them as they die. These instances were shown by Celts of the Celtic tribes during the Bronze Age. The proof of the cited practices were found by archeologists who were able to find the bones of the Celts holding their swords. The details about the development of swords over time will be discussed in the next paragraphs. As we go through each kind of known sword, we will be able to elaborate important things such as the kind of swords per era and per country. The techniques of making swords will also be discussed in details. As we dig deeper into each culture, amazing importance of the weapon will be seen. How intricate do the people of history deal with their swords? It is important to know the society to really understand why such importance is given to a simple sword. The swords of the Bronze Age were the first swords used around 6,000 years ago. The Bronze sword was just a straight sword that was only made for slashing foes. The only drawback of the sword was that it could deform in the intensity of a fight. When the Iron Age came, swords could be forged in many shapes and sizes. Iron swords were even more durable, and last longer in fights, than bronze would ever have. However during this Industrial age, man still wanted a harder alloy, and so came Steel. Steel was used during the time of the Romans, and its properties were mastered as well. The Romans used the alloy for their Gladius, an infantry short sword of the Roman army. By using this new metal, the Romans were able to create the best sword in the business during their time. Due to this

Bautista 6 advancement, the Romans were able to face and conquer their enemies who used weaker swords. This advancement made other cultures makes new swords of their own making. Vikings, Knights, and Samurai were able to take swords to the next level. Not all of these warriors met in battle, but th at didnt mean they didnt have to experience the enemy to make a new sword. While discussing about some groups of people whose main weapon is their sword, we must ask. How are they different when it comes to the shape, importance and significance of their swords? First, we have Vikings. Viking warriors are a nomadic race originating from Norway or Iceland. They were warrior that sought to conquer new lands to have as their own using their famous long ships. Viking warriors used a steel sword that represents how swords evolved from the previous eras. When compared to a Bronze sword, their Steel was able to have more damage than what Bronze could inflict. The Viking swords were longer than the Gladius, and would have names such as Fat Beater or Biter of Legs. In Medieval times a new race of warriors came that would be an influence on romantic notions. These warriors were the famous Knights, a brave elite class of soldiers that respects the ways of the church. By then, Knights made a new sword culture, which was the Chivalry Code. This culture added up a deeper meaning to swords. It represents the honor of the knight. It also showed symbolism of Christianity, making Knights as champions of the Church. One of their swords was the famous Great Sword, which would be used in the Fight against the Muslims. Their fight was seen in recorded

Bautista 7 moments of the Crusades, where we see a fight between the cross shaped broadsword of Christianity against the crescent shaped Scimitar of Islam. Across the sea, a new sword was made in the Land of the Rising Sun. The most renowned Samurais began to rise along with their swords called as Katana. This sword became a vital part of a samurais life. It is not only the owner of the sword who shows a lot of importance to it. The blacksmiths of the katana give it an intricate process of making. They even pray for the sword to bring greatness to the one who owns it. Certain practice showed such proof on how they highly regard the sword as the identity or soul of a samurai. In fact, it usually takes up four days and four nights for a Japanese blacksmith to finish one katana. These swordsmiths live a spiritual life praying to their gods, in hopes for a good blade. During the Renaissance, lighter swords such as Rapiers and Sabers introduced academic purposes in swords. Even these swords were featured in the famous stories of The Three Musketeers. Some would even be used in the theater; even Shakespeare took his fencing seriously. Through the development of printing, sword learning was able to reach a wider range of audience. These kinds of swords allowed in gentlemens duels, that consist of using a pistol and a sword. Techniques in making swords were passed down from Blacksmiths apprentice or son. The technique in making Iron an effective weapon, was to make it steeled. That kind of process requires much time and a skilled Blacksmith. European and Indian smiths had a tricky problem with mixing Iron and Steel, and created the process of Pattern Welding. It braids Hard Steel

Bautista 8 with Soft Iron, to make a balanced blade that was sharp and hard enough to take blows. The Japanese got these qualities and folded iron over and over until the Katana consisted of 4 million layers of steel. There are many swords in the world that people, would favor their own. Some Famous swords would be medieval swords, Fencing swords, and especially the Japanese Katana. These swords were the most celebrated swords during their eras. Aside from their function as a weapon, they also stood as the identity of the owner. Swords back then were well respected by many warriors and owners. Each would wear one with pride as they go through their lives. Today people dont use them as weapons so much, but still respect their craft. The days of the swords have ended when the age of guns came into light. Still, swords struggled to be part of the battles until it ended in World War II. The

importance of swords is still remembered as it is passed through by generations to generations. With the documents written and the crafts preserved through time, the legacy of swords continued. It can be seen in the movies and the TV shows the Hollywood made. As with how the people regarded swords in the past, many can still be seen showing off their crafts as it was passed down to them. The pride of their ancestors brought down the new generations as they displayed the swords they preserved.

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Glossary Gladius A one handed short sword used by the Roman Infantry as a standard issue. Great Sword A two handed sword that is longer than the Average sword. Scimitar This was a long curved sword that is used by Mediterranean races, like Islam or Persia.

Bautista 10 Citations William Weir. The Symbol of War: The Sword. Chapter 3. 50 Weapons that Changed Warfare. Kathryn Henches. Franklin Lakes, NJ. The Career Press Inc. Michele Byam. European swords p. 16, Dueling Swords p. 42, The First Warriors p. 10. Eye Witness Arms and Armour. Julie Ferris, Jane Yorke. London, United Kingdoms. The Penguin Company Terry Deary. Knight Weapons p. 23. Nasty Knights. Martin Brown. London, United Kingdoms. Scholastic Childrens Books. Brenda Ralph Lewis & Rupert Matthews. The Sword p. 70 -73. The Historical Atlas of Weapons. Valeria Kogan. New York, USA. ChartWell Books, Inc. 2011. Lock n Load with R. Lee Ermey 09 Blades. Youtube.com. TheSpamGuys. Nov. 24, 2011. Sept 27, 2013. Medieval Weapons and Armour. Sept 27, 2013

http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm#swords Swords : Complete History of Swords (Full Documentary). Youtube.com. Super Docs Today. Sept 16, 2013. Sept 27, 2013