Description
European Arms and Armour opens with the weapons and defences of prehistoric man and traces their evolution down to the introduction of gunpowder in the 15th century. It discusses the arms and armour of every major historical period.
Library's review
'The shield generally adapted by the Norman cavalry was kite-shaped and probably of Sicilian origin, it was either flat, or round so as to encircle the body to some extent. The protection afforded by such a shield is obvious, inasmuch as it guarded the upper part of the body where it was the
The study of arms and armor appeals to students of history, to antiquarians , and to patrons of art. To historians it is a concrete reminder of the sturggles of nations for liberty, power, or conquest; to antiquarians it breathes of the age in which it saw light with all the feeling and tone that characterized it; to the patronof art it is a source of delight by the beauty of its form, or unique and exquisite detail of its adornment.
Copiously illustrated with artwork from such sources as the Tower of London, the Wallace Collection, the British Museum, and the Edinburgh Castle Museum, European Arms & Armor is a far-reaching volume that opens with the weapons and defenses of prehistoric man and traces their evolution down to the introduction fo gunpowder in the fourteenth century. There are discussions of Roman arms and armor, the Normans, the Camail and Jupon period, Maximilian armor, projectile-throwing engines, and almost every other major historical period.
'The complicated methods by which a fortress was captured or a town carried during the Midle Ages are not generally known, and the means adopted at the present time are as a general rule credited with being the outcome of the skill and science of the past few centuries. This, howerver, will not bear the test of investigation, for we find that almost every device has had its prototype in past ages, every idea has been forestalled. It comes almost with a shock to some, and produces a feeling of incredulity, to be told that huge mssiles vieing in destructive effect with the modern shell, and as a rule many times larger, were sent with unerring aim into the heart of a besieged town, levelling houses to the ground and dealing destruction far and wide. The idea of a seige in medieval times a generally that of a tree to batter down a door, archers to shoot down the defenders on the walls, desperate charges of cavalry against sallies of the garrisoon, and forlorn hopes of men carrying scaling-ladders with which to surmount the walls. These are, however, only a few concomitants of the complicated methods by which a siege was acccomplished.'-from European Arms & Armor
Contents
Preface
Weapons of prehistoric man
The Assyrians
The Romans
Saxons and Danes
The Norman period to 1180
The chain mail period, 1180-1250
Chain mail reinforced 1250-1325
The Cyclas period, 1325-1335
The studded and splinted armour period, 1335-1360
The camail and jupon period, 1360-1410
The surcoaatless period, 1410-1430
The tabard period, 1430-1500
The transition period, 1500-1525
Maximilian armour, 1525-1600
The half-armour period after 1600
Weapons of the early and middle ages
Projectile-throwing engines
German, Italian, and other influences upon European armour
The introduction of gunpowder and its influence upon armou
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broadest, and by tapering downwards defended the left leg. It was invariably made of wood and covered on both sides with leather, in addition to which extra defences of metal were added.'-from European Arms & ArmorThe study of arms and armor appeals to students of history, to antiquarians , and to patrons of art. To historians it is a concrete reminder of the sturggles of nations for liberty, power, or conquest; to antiquarians it breathes of the age in which it saw light with all the feeling and tone that characterized it; to the patronof art it is a source of delight by the beauty of its form, or unique and exquisite detail of its adornment.
Copiously illustrated with artwork from such sources as the Tower of London, the Wallace Collection, the British Museum, and the Edinburgh Castle Museum, European Arms & Armor is a far-reaching volume that opens with the weapons and defenses of prehistoric man and traces their evolution down to the introduction fo gunpowder in the fourteenth century. There are discussions of Roman arms and armor, the Normans, the Camail and Jupon period, Maximilian armor, projectile-throwing engines, and almost every other major historical period.
'The complicated methods by which a fortress was captured or a town carried during the Midle Ages are not generally known, and the means adopted at the present time are as a general rule credited with being the outcome of the skill and science of the past few centuries. This, howerver, will not bear the test of investigation, for we find that almost every device has had its prototype in past ages, every idea has been forestalled. It comes almost with a shock to some, and produces a feeling of incredulity, to be told that huge mssiles vieing in destructive effect with the modern shell, and as a rule many times larger, were sent with unerring aim into the heart of a besieged town, levelling houses to the ground and dealing destruction far and wide. The idea of a seige in medieval times a generally that of a tree to batter down a door, archers to shoot down the defenders on the walls, desperate charges of cavalry against sallies of the garrisoon, and forlorn hopes of men carrying scaling-ladders with which to surmount the walls. These are, however, only a few concomitants of the complicated methods by which a siege was acccomplished.'-from European Arms & Armor
Contents
Preface
Weapons of prehistoric man
The Assyrians
The Romans
Saxons and Danes
The Norman period to 1180
The chain mail period, 1180-1250
Chain mail reinforced 1250-1325
The Cyclas period, 1325-1335
The studded and splinted armour period, 1335-1360
The camail and jupon period, 1360-1410
The surcoaatless period, 1410-1430
The tabard period, 1430-1500
The transition period, 1500-1525
Maximilian armour, 1525-1600
The half-armour period after 1600
Weapons of the early and middle ages
Projectile-throwing engines
German, Italian, and other influences upon European armour
The introduction of gunpowder and its influence upon armou
Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Poleaxe
While taking notes reading this book, I realized my notes were evolving into a pros and cons list quite unintentionaly. So far be it from me to deprive you of it's descriptive:
Pros: Chronology and categories are very well organized.
That was quick, now the cons.
Cons: Mr. Ashdown should be taken only
He uses slightly outdated terms in relation to armor pieces despite the book's recent
publication.
Mr. Ashdown seems to be able to tell if an armor piece is made from cuir boulli or steel
just by looking at it's representation in a centuries-old manuscript, stained glass
window or funeral brass.
Has an obsession with something called "banded mail". I've come across the term a
few times .in a dozen books, most never even mentioning it. The consensus seems to
be that it either never existed or was very rare at best. Yet he finds it everywhere in
illustrations, not considering the artist's representative methods may not have been
very accurate.
At least half the book is just a study of monumental brasses and effigies as it is
anything. Very tedious reading unless this is your main area of study.
I know these points could be confusing, but once one sat down and started reading this work, they would instantly recognize what I am talking about. This is really a simply boring and odd book.
Pros: Chronology and categories are very well organized.
That was quick, now the cons.
Cons: Mr. Ashdown should be taken only
Show More
in small doses.He uses slightly outdated terms in relation to armor pieces despite the book's recent
publication.
Mr. Ashdown seems to be able to tell if an armor piece is made from cuir boulli or steel
just by looking at it's representation in a centuries-old manuscript, stained glass
window or funeral brass.
Has an obsession with something called "banded mail". I've come across the term a
few times .in a dozen books, most never even mentioning it. The consensus seems to
be that it either never existed or was very rare at best. Yet he finds it everywhere in
illustrations, not considering the artist's representative methods may not have been
very accurate.
At least half the book is just a study of monumental brasses and effigies as it is
anything. Very tedious reading unless this is your main area of study.
I know these points could be confusing, but once one sat down and started reading this work, they would instantly recognize what I am talking about. This is really a simply boring and odd book.
Show Less
ISBN
1566196515 / 9781566196512
Publication
Barnes & Noble Books
Original publication date
1995