In my readings about dark ages history, I noticed the early Anglo-Saxons preferred to fight with spears, the Norse with Axes, and there were a few swords and bows used by all armies as well. This makes me want to ask, why did different peoples use certain weapons most often? And, which is best? I have accumulated some thoughts on this question, but I would like to invite other dopers to chip in and maybe I can learn something that will help me in my attempts to grasp this question.
– Swords may have been the preferred weapon, but they were Very hard to make. It took several man months to make a sword, a service only the wealthiest men could afford.
– Spears were probably the easiest weapon to make, being simply a spearhead on a wooden shaft. Furthermore, a spear did not require much space to use, perhaps a meter per man. Therefore, a formation of men could stand shoulder to shoulder and interlock their shields, presenting a formidable front to the enemy.
– Axes were excellent chopping weapons and easier to make than swords, but required at least two meters of space between men to be used effectively. Thus, a man would have to step outside of his formation to use them effectively. However, this kind of fighting could have appealed to Celtic or Norse warriors.
– The bow and arrow was a stand-off weapon. Thus, there was little glory in using a bow and arrow in combat. The real glory was to be found standing face to face with your enemy. Thus, perhaps the smallest and weakest men were trained on the bow.
What other ideas do you have to contribute?
