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The idea of late medieval arms and armour often conjures up images of lumbering warriors, clad in heavy plate armour, hacking away at with each other with enormous weapons - depictions perpetuated in both bad literature and bad movies. In this introductory guide, replete with fabulous photography and marvellous anecdotes, internationally-renowned edged weapons expert Robert Woosnam-Savage describes the brutal reality of personal protection and attack in the so-called 'age of chivalry'. From Bannockburn to Bosworth, Poitiers to Pavia, this book is an indispensable introduction to an iconic era.
"The history of England records no more charismatic figure than King Henry VIII. His reign reveals an intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, and during it his kingdom emerged as a power to be reckoned with. He was fascinated by weapons and armour, taking a personal interest in their design and manufacture. Henry's impact upon the Royal Armouries' collection is immense. The arms and armour made for him, his personal guard and his army still form the core of the collection. This book is part of a series of introductions to aspects of the Royal Armouries' collection of arms and armour, written by specialists in the field and packed with fascinating information and stunning photography."--woodslane.com.au.
Japan's inherited traditions and technological skill are reflected in the material culture of the nation. Here, Curator Emeritus Ian Bottomley describes one of the most popular parts of the Royal Armouries' collection. He offers an oversight of Japanese arms and armour from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, describing sword-making, the rise of firearms, and highlights from key military campaigns.
The Elizabethan court was a vibrant and colourful place, where the inherited traditions and technological skill that had characterised the Middle Ages came face to face with the decorative techniques of the Renaissance. This book shows how the arms and armour in the collections of the Royal Armouries can be studied to gain insight into this creative and dynamic period. This book is part of a series of introductions to aspects of the Royal Armouries' collection of arms and armour. Written by specialists in the field, they are packed full of fascinating information and stunning photography.
India is a vast sub-continent with a complex history and a great array of languages, cultures and religions. This book serves as a short introduction to the exquisite weapons used in the region, focusing on the Royal Armouries' collections from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Beautiful photography is interwoven with remarkable historical and cultural detail about archery, swords, shields, daggers, firearms, artillery and elephant armour.
"The fabled treasures of China span thousands of years of history. From the exotic Silk Road to the mysterious Great Wall, China's allure is as vast as the country itself. Here, Natasha Bennett introduces the fascinating world of Chinese arms and armour in the Royal Armouries' collection. Offering a colourful insight into one of the world's earliest civilisations, she chronicles the development of personal weapons and armour from the late Bronze Age to the early twentieth century. It is ideal for anyone interested in the military and material culture of this absorbing land." --Publisher's website.
Jousting is the most iconic form of mounted combat. For more than five hundred years, the sport itself, and the chivalric culture that surrounded it, took on almost mythical qualities. Here, Tobias Capwell explains the glitz and glamour of a sport that attracted enormous popular audiences throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Though he deals almost exclusively with weapons and warriors, Capwell tells a story not of war and destruction, but of pageantry and valor. This is the story of the armor of peace.
A photo essay examining the design, construction, and uses of hand weapons and armor from a Stone Age axe to the revolvers and rifles of the Wild West.
Tracing the development of the weapons of the Indian warrior, from the earliest to modern times, this text also provides illustrations of a wide variety of the arms and armour discussed.