Can you imagine fighting wearing a 50lb suit of amour while also wielding a 25lb sword? This is what knights had to do in the middle ages. They fought in tournaments and battles. Knights wore about 70-80lb of equipment while fighting while troops today wear about 50-60 pounds. Knights served in a government system called feudalism.
Feudalism was a medieval government system that a King offered Citizens fiefs or units of land for military service. This discouraged a unified government. Lords would divide their land into smaller sections. Then they would give these lands to lesser people then those people would divide their land to even lesser Knights. Next is the steps to becoming a Knight There were many steps
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During jousting in combat, Knights would have a lance, a Roundel also called a dagger, a sword which was attached to the waist of the Knight, a mace, and a spikes attached to the knuckles of the gauntlets which the Knight wore. There were many types of swords Knights used. The most used was the broadsword, but they also used the Falchion, Bastardsword, the Cutting sword, and the Great sword. They might also use a pike and halberd. Many different armor types were used by Knights. They first used mail armor. This was used to defend against cuts and stab, but the Knights could still be injured by blunt weapons such as maces. This could fracture bones and leave the Knight incapable of fighting. Next came plate armor. This was very expensive to make and only a few Nobles had it. It was nearly impossible to cut plate Armor, but the Knights were still vulnerable to blunt attacks. Plate armor did weigh some, but still allowed the user to be mobile. A well-made full suit of plate armor is about 45 pounds which is about the same amount soldiers carry today. Then you have to add the weight of their weapons which is about 20-30 pound more. A Knighting ceremony was where a squire turned into a Knight They would wear white vesture which symbolized purity. They would also wear a red robe to symbolize nobility. His shoes and hose were black to symbolize
According to Document D, “Samurai did not wear armor on their right arm so they could easily draw their bow”. This shows that because the samurai had different fighting techniques, their armor had to fit appropriately and had to only cover the body parts, that weren’t in the way during a battle. In contrast, Document D also states, “Not only was the entire body covered, but knights also wore helmets, gloves, and shoes out of steel”. This shows that the knight was completely covered from head to toe because he used different weapons like swords, axes, and lances. Furthermore, when a knight fell of his horse, it would be harder for him to get up to his feet while fighting because of the heaviness of his armor. In conclusion, the knight's armor was different from the samurai’s, as well their relationship between their lord and
Both the medieval European knights and the Japanese samurai used horses as means of transport into battle. They also both wore armour and used swords. European armour was typically all-metal and was made or either chain mail or plate metal. Whilst this made them more protected, it also restricted their movement. In contrast, the Japanese samurais donned armour which comprised of lacquered leather or metal plates with silk or metal bindings. This light weight armour was advantageous in that it allowed the samurai to be quick and more agile. The drawback to this armour though was that it provided much less protection.
Likewise, knights wore “complete suits of plate armor, constructed from metal...wore helmets, gloves, and shoes of steel...a knight’s armor could weigh 40 to 60 pounds.” (Document D) Both samurais and European knights were protected by a heavy armor out of metal in battle; it can be inferred that both Japan and Europe found importance in protecting their warriors looking from the stringency of armor and protection. The reason for protecting their warriors would be due to the myriad of battles feudal Japan and Europe would have had to carry out. To ensure success in battle, they would’ve made further technological advances such as protective armor, ensuring better performance when battling. By protecting the warriors using this effective armor, both Japan and Europe would’ve been able to attain more as a whole and advance as a civilization - a common achievement carried out as well. Despite the many differences between Japanese samurais and European knights, the similarities outweighed these differences due to the homologous elements in their position in hierarchy and the use of protective armor in battle, leading to the success in both Japan and
In medieval Japan Samurais armor (According to Doc D by Terry Bennett) had an arm with no armor or very light armor, the reason for this was Samurai specialized in projectile warfare, and Samurai armor stayed the same for the rest of the Samurai area. In Europe the Knights used chainmail armor for quite some time, that is until crossbows and longbows became common, they had to change to metal armor that could be 60 pounds making it hard to get up if they were knocked down. Also the Knight's armor was made for shock warfare (According to Doc D from Art
First of all the knights and samurai both wore armor. It states in document D that in samurai armor they were put together with tiny iron scales. The knights had one big body suit of armor in one piece. This means that the armor they
Based on Document D, of “Armor Of Medieval Warriors” it states, “ Samurai did not wear armor on their right arm so that they could easily draw their bow.” The Samurai did not wear the same armor as the Knights because the Samurai only wore armor on one arm. The Knights wore the same armor as all the other fighters. The Samurai were smart because they made fighting more comfortable and easier for them. the Knights were still good fighters, it was just that when the Samurai drew their bow it was more easier. According to, “Dress like a Knight” it says, “ an oldie, but a goodie. Half spear, half axe, all dangerous.” This explains what the Knights armor looked and felt like. The description is about the pike pole, which is a weapon that the Knights used. the Samurai had techniques in there fighting. Although, the Knights just had good weapons to fight
Armor started out being leather and advanced to chain mail throughout the middle ages.In the Middle Ages, Knights’ armor was different. In the beginning of the Middle Ages, they wore leather armor (Freudenrich). Leather cost a lot, but was easily crafted using heated water or oil (Freudenrich). Leather is good at stopping swords but is susceptible to thrusts and arrows (Freudenrich). In the Middle Ages, chain mail was popular, but was borrowed from the Romans (Freudenrich). Chain mail was mostly small, interlocked steel rings. The ends of the rings could be close together (butted mail) or could have a metal rivet (riveted mail) (Freudenrich). Chain mail was pretty easy to make, it cost less than other forms of armor and
This created a very strong surface, but allowed the armor to become lighter which helped the knights to move more freely. Yet, all these developments in armor were only the beginning when one considers the modern day protection available to our military. It is very far removed from medieval times and is way way more advanced. The current military armor has Dupont Kelvar fiber, which offers the protection the modern military requires. It is light and comfortable, allowing the soldiers to move quickly, and greatly reduce the fatigue levels.
Feudalism works through a socioeconomic hierarchy that is reflected in the epic. In Christian medieval Europe, “feudalism...resembles a pyramid, with the lowest peasants at its base and the lines of authority flowing up to the peak of the structure, the king” (Alchin 1). However, the pyramid does not stop there, as God and the Pope, in that order, occupy positions at the top. The king claimed ownership of all the land in the country, but he sometimes granted areas of land called fiefs. The recipients of these areas were lords, who were men of high office. In the pyramid, these lords were below the king and “pledged their loyalty by swearing to serve and protect [him]” (Alchin 1). The lords gave some of this same land to the subordinate rank, the vassals. The vassals, also called dukes and counts, were men who provided allegiance and services to the lords and the king in return for fiefs. Among the vassals were the knights, who were “less powerful military men” (Alchin 1) who fought for the lords and the king. Lastly, at the bottom of the pyramid were the peasants, who “belonged to the [vassal’s] land and
Peasants were essentially treated as cannon fodder marching into battles in hordes armed with farming implements and small knives. Other weapons were expensive and limited by monarchies. Knights in contrast were treated with the utmost respect and wore protective steel mail and plates. Due to the expectation that knights would furnish all of their own equipment, training and horses, the knightly class became almost exclusively filled with rich nobles and aristocrats. Archers proved to be highly effective but the skill took a lifetime to master and arrows needed to be shot at close range to be capable of penetrating knight’s armor. Furthermore, archers were vulnerable to charge while they reloaded.
With the jousting stick becoming a form of combat, many knights in the Middle Ages met their demise. Throughout the years, many knights had begun to use the jousting stick as their main form of combat. This method of combat, render foot soldiers completely useless, as the knights rode on horses. Soon after, foot soldiers would probably decrease in numbers, while some might decide to become archers, where it is safer. Suggesting that knights would have to fight each other, perhaps decreasing the number of knights
In the medieval period there were a bunch of different weapons and inventions created to make their life the easier. The knights were trained how to set up their armor and fight on horses they had to do this. I hope you enjoyed reading this
The armour the Knights wore in the medieval Europe was definitely more effective than what the Samurai’s wore in feudal Japan. The Knight’s armour covers the whole body and has revolutionised over
During the Feudal Age, societies began to change from having a rich class and everyone else was below them to having a hierarchy of classes. The kings and emperors had the most power and the peasants had the least amount of power with other classes between kings and peasants. One of these groups in between were the knights.
The lightweight armor allowed for greater freedom of movement on the ground and also helped for more flexibility on the horse. The Samurai became expert in fighting on the ground. They practiced art of war at a young age and became masters in what they did. During peaceful times Samurai focused more on fighting with the bow and arrow. They were more efficient in using swords for hand to hand fighting and beheading their enemies. Their Armor included a metal helmet usually decorated that protected both head and neck, a plate made of leather and metal protected the chest. Thin leather or bamboo plates protected their arms and legs also. The knight’s on the other hand were heavily armored and their best weapon was their armored horse; which was used for charging the enemy. They revolutionized warfare and became the foundation of the new warfare structure in Europe during middle ages. Knight’s armor ranged from heavy chain mail, layers of a metal mesh, iron metal plates so heavy that hindered easy movement. Knights had metal armour covering every inch of their body. However the knight and the samurai became less effective as long range weapons became popular and was useful for killing the targets over great distances. The usage and introduction of gunpowder also led to the decline of two warriors.