Middle Ages Weapons research paper due and don’t know how to start it? How about like this?
Throughout the Middle Ages, weapons were a necessary part of life. In the age of Kings, Queens, and Knights, being able to defend one’s territories against foreign enemies or invaders was essential to survival. As a result, there was a vast array of weapons used for these purposes, though most were incredibly primitive, especially by today’s standards. The primary weapon was manpower, just as it would continue to be for ages. There were two basic types of armed men available for defense purposes in the Middle Ages: knights and foot soldiers, including the archers. The weapons used by each of these types of men would vary based on their skill and rank, but most were responsible for providing their own. Thus, the diversity in the specific weapons used could be dramatic.
Knights had a series of specific weapons they used according to their skills. Knights received extensive training, and were often equipped with one of an array of swords, including broadswords, longswords, and greatswords. Nearly all had elaborately-decorated shields, signifying their family crest or the crest of the individual for whom they were fighting. Lances were also common, used as a prominent weapon for those fighting on horseback. Peasants, however, were forced to rely on a vast array of weapons, some of which were more primitive than others. Some relied on batons, which were little more than wooden sticks used as simulated swords during training, while some used spears. Some had more training, and were able to wield crossbows or longbows to defeat their enemies. Some were highly specific, such as the caltrops, which were used to stop horses, while others were simply brutal, such as battle axes, the warhammer, and the halberd. All of these weapons, however, varied based on one’s ability and financial situation.