Polearms – the beginnings

A sharpened wooden stick with a hardened point is the oldest weapon that man used for hunting, fighting, or defending against animals that threatened him.

As civilization gradually progressed the spear was also developed. The sharpened wooden point was replaced first by a stone one, and with the development of metallurgy by a bronze or iron piercing point, i.e. head.

There are two basic spear forms: a heavy stabbing spear often up to 5.5 meters long, and a javelin or a light throwing spear. From the earliest times until the ninteenth century, the spear did not change much its appearance and it was the most used and longest used weapon in battles.