Reprint of 1855 edition, with many illustrations. This book provides a fascinating guide to the means of waging war from the Iron Age to the 13th century. Distanced from the battlefield by today's technology, it is all too easy to forget the intimate, hand-to-hand nature of early combat. Hewitt's superb volume restores the splendour of this age of warfare with an illustrated account of the armour and weaponry of the times. A compelling picture of each age is drawn from first-hand evidence such as the intricately woven Bayeux Tapestry and long-neglected medieval French manuscripts. Gradually, the carefully observed details - such as the various types of chain mail and side arms that passed in and out of use - brings a lost age vividly to life...