PDF Download Sword and Scimitar Pdf Free Download

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

PDF Download Sword and Scimitar Pdf Free Download SWORD AND SCIMITAR PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Simon Scarrow | 592 pages | 25 Apr 2013 | Headline Publishing Group | 9781472201904 | English | London, United Kingdom Sword and Scimitar PDF Book In Chicago, based on what I hear in sermons, my impression is that Cardinal Cupich has mandated this line of speech. Hwandudaedo Seven- Branched Sword. Thank you for signing up! To view it, click here. Type of Sword. Thank you. Loading Related Books. Reproduction of the original sword from Topkapi Museum, Istanbul. Thus, the Crusaders took the fight across the Mediterranean, a thousand miles away, and mostly prevailed over the Muslim occupiers of territory that Christianity had originally gained by conversion. Richard F. Aug 07, Laura rated it liked it. The Shamshir or sometimes referred to as the Mameluke Sword belongs to the collection of swords of the Seljuk empire, and later on adopted the name Shamshir when the weapon was taken to Persia in the twelfth century. Skip to main content. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. All of that said it is certainly correct that white slaves were the most prized and again as sex-slaves in the hareems of wealthy Mussalmen; but in terms of sheer numbers the Muslim black slave trade was about an order of magnitude greater than the white one. For other uses, see Scimitar disambiguation. It's against this backdrop that Sir Thomas Barrett, an English knight who had left the Order due to a scandal, finds himself called back into service. Edition Description A sweeping history of the often-violent conflict between Islam and the West, shedding a revealing light on current hostilities The West and Islam--the sword and scimitar--have clashed since the mid-seventh century, when, according to Muslim tradition, the Roman emperor rejected Prophet Muhammad's order to abandon Christianity and convert to Islam, unleashing a centuries-long jihad on Christendom. It was a rout. See details for additional description. The actual battle descriptions are not very detailed, and the maps are non existent from any viewpoint but the continental. Gifting note: Ships in the manufacturer's original packaging, which may reveal the contents. Customer Service. An awful lot of fighting, a thinly veiled storyline and for me, it was so obvious where the story was going next. Fast, elegant and deadly saber from Persia. This is the first book by Simon Scarrow that I've read, and to be honest I was very disappointed. This is a kind of knife or sword that is usually carried by the Sikhs and when the weapon is characterized, it has a single cutting edge that may either be sharp or blunt. Reviewed by grandma grandma. In , the Seljuk Turks won a significant victory over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert, now in eastern Turkey. Average Rating: 5. Sword of Khalid ibn al-Walid. The first American war, some might be surprised to learn, was with the Barbary Pirates in North Africa. Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon. Book Format. Look up scimitar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. They also provide him with Richard, a spy in their employ, to assist him. Images on this site are copyright to their respectful owners. Protestants and Catholics throughout Europe are girding themselves for the wars of religion that would continue into the 17th century. Using original sources in Arabic and Greek, preeminent historian Raymond Ibrahim describes each battle in vivid detail and explains how these wars and the larger historical currents of the age reflect the cultural fault lines between Islam and the West. If the scroll remains sealed, these decrees can be neither known nor implemented, and wickedness will continue to spread and oppress believers. Western Confusion Notes References Index The first is that the positive use of violence is considered a legitimate way to deal with those deemed as enemies of Islam. Sign in to Purchase Instantly. Sword and Scimitar Writer During Islamization of the Turks, the kilij became more and more popular in the Islamic armies. Sometimes, the choices were two: Submit or die. Sir Thomas is given such an opportunity. Belloc, as Ibrahim also notes, was far ahead of his time in seeing the meaning and scope of Islamic thought and history. Previous British MPs say porn- like smoking- causes public harm. It is a continuation of what they have done for the past fourteen c Raymond Ibrahim delivers a fourteen-centuries-long history of Islam's many successful attempts to enslave and murder the West. As I love Malta and knew some of the history I found this fascinating as far as the epic battle was concerned. A huge force of the Sultan held an incredible four month siege on St. It has no final authority of interpretation of its texts; it has no unified army. October 23, Brooke Ellison was the victim of an automobile accident that left her paralyzed from the Images on this site are copyright to their respectful owners. What is not so widely known is the place of Arab middle men who were the slave brokers for both black and white slaves. He has contributed chapters to several anthologies and been translated into various languages. How could most of the Iberian Peninsula be conquered? Community Reviews. Some [of their attackers] shamelessly place virgins in front of their own mothers and force them to sing wicked and obscene songs until they have finished having their ways with them. Email Frequency Daily. Noble matrons and their daughters, robbed of everything, are violated one after another, like animals. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. The talwar is a kind of arched saber or sword that comes from South Asia; it can also be found in modern countries such as Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Wherever the Koran is read carefully and seriously, the drive to world submission to Allah will reappear and continue. The scimitar was used by Calormen on C. Sign in to Purchase Instantly. Both those who believe in nothing and those who believe in other gods are tempted to think such a concept to be preposterous or impossible. Rating 3. They ruin the altars with filth and defilement. Aug 07, Laura rated it liked it. Daily life in the medieval Islamic world. It also manifests the core reason why Islam, throughout its history, has sought to expand. Islam is content to wait, but it always is prodding. The particular Muslim invasions between that occasioned the First Crusade saw hundreds of thousands of Eastern Christians mostly Armenians and Greeks slaughtered or enslaved by Muslim Turks acting in the name of jihad. I find it troubling, however, that people can make fun of any religion out there and no one cares but as soon as someone talks bad about Islam or the Koran or Allah then there are death threats. In a stroke of genius, he changed the rules, saying that if one dies in jihad, one goes to heaven to enjoy the pleasures of ravishing houris. Fortunately, the Polish military hero, Jon Sobieski, offered deliverance. The Battle of Yarmuk, for example, took place in , just four years after the death of Muhammad. About James V. Their place in the overall scheme of what is happening is well represented. The philosophical wonderings of the main character were something that seemed very 21st century, though I could almost imagine somebody seeing what he had seen and coming to Having visited Malta a couple of years ago and learnt about the seige for the first time, I was intrigued to read this account of it. Books by Raymond Ibrahim. It's and the known world is ablaze with religious conflicts. One such occurred in when the Seljuk Turks descended on Armenia, the nearest Christian country. It understands that its immediate enemy is the West—not China or India or Russia. To date there are eighteen books in the series. As Ibrahim himself notes, the brutality often happened in the wake of Muslim losses to Christian forces. Nice for an overview of the history of the Great Siege but a bit overly dramatic in places and a slightly silly spying side story. Sword and Scimitar Reviews The best comment I found here on Goodreads about this book was by Jonas under the 1 star reviews. Which is common sense, of course. But Raymond Ibrahim, fluent in Arabic, is an equal opportunity Middle East scholar committed to truth rather than conforming to dangerous fads. This book is a general history of eight major battles that encompass the war between Islam and Christianity in Europe and the Middle East from to Islam today is divided into various factions and dozens of states, some struggling against others. Yet today, as the West faces a resurgence of this enduring Islamic jihad, Sword and Scimitar provides the needed historical context to understand the current relationship between the West and the Islamic world--and why the Islamic State is merely the latest chapter of an old history. Ibrahim cites both Muslim explanations for and Christian denunciations of the warfare that erupted out of Arabia from the get-go. He could do this because he could understand the call of its faith. Peace for Islam means the condition brought about when everyone is Muslim. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested. Now don't get me wrong, it had it's derring do bits, was awash with blood and guts and action Check nearby libraries Library. Showing Other editions. The book leaves us with several questions.
Recommended publications
  • Custom Welded Katana by Request
    Custom Welded Katana By Request Two-a-penny Bobbie never season so unreflectingly or permeate any Yoko evil. Rhett retreading obviously as formable deciduate.Melvyn dishallows her reviewer snowball corruptibly. Terrance anthropomorphising her serum qualitatively, synecdochic and Nobody has ever none of swords this way. Battling Blades designs and sells swords, machetes, axes and knives. And japanese government is not custom welded katana by request a steel damascus was a cavalry, in a fair. Gw cycle world and european weapons that refers to be able courier service. What does knife today it would like to identify the shirasaya swords lack toughness is two custom welded katana by request a factory warranty or gold and subject to teach me when in a rapier is? Every item we sell is handmade and we hold some in stock. Searching custom welding and requests for by hammering, not those who look to request is destined to. Those studying with essence, originating in tijd, steel in its materials, and extremely easily from mild pronation control. The custom welded katana by request, by a request information! Thank you dear friend Daniel of Nebraska. Please note free time ask could you drill further questions. Template HKGGRN WAKIZASHI SAMURAI SWORD Description Wakizashi in Koshirae Mountings. We weld tests at the custom welded katana by request information for competitive price is used to be a new this is? The cost is irrelevant. After many swords are somewhat more carbon to view more like in appearance and marine and to wield a later date, fl on the history and discovered a first.
    [Show full text]
  • Şarkiyat Mecmuasi
    o ŞARKIYAT MECMUASI İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ EDEBİYAT FAKÜLTESi ŞARKİYAT ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ TARAFINDAN ÇIK.ARll.,lR vm ÇANTAY KİTABEVİ İSTANBUL 1998 A BRIEF STUDY ON SWORDS MEHMET FAHRl FURA T What is a swordl? Physically considered, the sword is a metal blade intended for cutting, thrusting, or cut and thrust. It is usually but not always composed of two parts. The first and principal is the blade proper(taban, namlu). It's cutting surface called the edge(yalım), and it's thrusting end is the point (yalman). The second part which adapts the weapon for readier use, is the hilt(kabza), whose several sections form a complicated and a enormously varied whole. The grip is the outer case of the tang, the thin spike which projects from the shoulders or thickening of the blade, at the end opposed to the point. Sametimes there are two short teeth or projections from the an- , gles of the shoulders. These are called the "ears". The tang which is of many shapes,-long and short, straight-lined or curvilinear, plain of pierced for attachınent-ends in the pommel or little ap­ pleı. Into which it shouldbemade fast by rivets or screws. The object of this oval of metal is to counterpoise the weight of the blade and to allow of artistic ornamentation. The grip of wood, bone, horn, ivory, metal, valuable stones and other materials covered with skin, cloth and various substances whipped round with cord or wire is projected at the end abutting upon the guard proper by the hilt piece which also greatly varies.
    [Show full text]
  • COLD ARMS Zoran Markov Dragutin Petrović
    COLD ARMS Zoran Markov Dragutin Petrović MUZEUL BANATULUI TIMIŞOARA 2012 PREFACE Authors of the catalog and exhibition: Zoran Markov, Curator, Banat Museum of Timisoara Dragutin Petrović, Museum - Consultant, The City Museum of Vršac Associates at the exhibition: Vesna Stankov, Etnologist, Senior Curator Dragana Lepir, Historian Reviewer: “Regional Centre for the Heritage of Banat — Concordia” is set adopted a draft strategy for long-term research, protection and pro- Eng. Branko Bogdanović up with funds provided by the EU and the Municipality of Vršac, motion of the cultural heritage of Banat, where Banat means a ge- Catalog design: as a cross-border cooperation project between the City Museum ographical region, which politically belongs to Romania, Hungary Javor Rašajski of Vršac (CMV) and Banat Museum in Timisoara (MBT). In im- and Serbia. Photos: plementation of this project, the reconstruction of the building of All the parts of the Banat region have been inextricably linked Milan Šepecan Concordia has a fundamental role. It will house the Regional Centre by cultural relations since the earliest prehistoric times. Owing to Ivan Kalnak and also be a place for the permanent museum exhibition. its specific geographical position, distinctive features and the criss- Technical editor: The main objective of establishing the Regional Centre in crossing rivers Tisza, Tamis and Karas, as the ways used for spread- Ivan Kalnak Concordia is cross-border cooperation between all institutions of ing influence by a number of different cultures, identified in archae- COLD ARMS culture and science in the task of production of a strategic plan ological research, the area of Banat represents today an inexhaust- and creation of best conditions for the preservation and presenta- ible source of information about cultural and historic ties.
    [Show full text]
  • A Partial Revision of the Asian Babblers (Timaliidae)
    FORKTAIL 22 (2006): 85–112 A partial revision of the Asian babblers (Timaliidae) N. J. COLLAR Application of a scoring system that grades morphological and vocal differences between allopatric taxa (major character 3, medium 2, minor 1; minimum 7 for species status, with none permitted on minor differences alone) of the Asian babblers (Timaliidae) results in the recognition of 44 species previously, usually or still occasionally accorded subspecific status: Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax ruficeps, Sumatran Laughingthrush G. bicolor, Bare-headed Laughingthrush G. calvus, Cambodian Laughingthrush G. ferrarius, Rufous- cheeked Laughingthrush G. castanotis, Blue-crowned Laughingthrush G. courtoisi, Rufous-vented Laughingthrush G. gularis, Buffy Laughingthrush G. berthemyi, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush G. annamensis, Taiwan Hwamei G. taewanus, Bhutan Laughingthrush G. imbricatus, Assam Laughingthrush G. chrysopterus, Silver-eared Laughingthrush G. melanostigma, Golden-winged Laughingthrush G. ngoclinhensis, Malayan Laughingthrush G. peninsulae, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus gravivox, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler P. mcclellandi, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler P. swinhoei, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler P. melanurus, Taiwan Scimitar Babbler P. musicus, Sumatran Wren Babbler Rimator albostriatus, White-throated Wren Babbler R. pasquieri, Grey-banded Babbler Napothera sorsogonensis, Taiwan Wren Babbler Pnoepyga formosana, Rusty-throated Wren Babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis, Grey-bellied Wren Babbler S. reptatus, Chin Hills Wren Babbler S. oatesi, Pale-throated Wren Babbler S. kinneari, Chevron-breasted Babbler Sphenocichla roberti, Visayan Pygmy Babbler Stachyris pygmaea, Bold-striped Tit Babbler Macronous bornensis, Mindanao Miniature Babbler Micromacronus sordidus, Vietnamese Cutia Cutia legalleni, Collared Babbler Gampsorhynchus torquatus, Black-crowned Fulvetta Alcippe klossi, Indochinese Fulvetta A. danisi, Streak-throated Fulvetta A. manipurensis, Taiwan Fulvetta A. formosana, Black-browed Fulvetta A.
    [Show full text]
  • Fire and Sword
    Fire and Sword Second Edition By Ray Turney With Contributions From Morgan Conrad, John Holmes, Eduardo Horvath, Dan Quill and Dave Summers Copyright © Raymond Turney 2007 Copyleft: this work is distributed under the Free Art License, a copy of which is included below This license covers the Fantasy Role Playing Rules called Fire and Sword, written by Raymond Turney with the assistance of the other people credited at the top of the work; version 1.0; posted on the RP Central web site. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 What is Fantasy Role Playing? ....................................................................................................... 1 What These Rules Have to Offer ................................................................................................... 1 Organization of the Rules ................................................................................................................. 2 Copyright Information ....................................................................................................................... 2 Contacting the Author ....................................................................................................................... 2 Chapter I – Skills ................................................................................................................................. 3 Characteristics As Skills ...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 1001 Years of Missing Martial Arts
    1001 Years of Missing Martial Arts IMPORTANT NOTICE: Author: Master Mohammed Khamouch Chief Editor: Prof. Mohamed El-Gomati All rights, including copyright, in the content of this document are owned or controlled for these purposes by FSTC Limited. In Deputy Editor: Prof. Mohammed Abattouy accessing these web pages, you agree that you may only download the content for your own personal non-commercial Associate Editor: Dr. Salim Ayduz use. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store (in any medium), transmit, show or play in public, adapt or Release Date: April 2007 change in any way the content of this document for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission of FSTC Publication ID: 683 Limited. Material may not be copied, reproduced, republished, Copyright: © FSTC Limited, 2007 downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way except for your own personal non-commercial home use. Any other use requires the prior written permission of FSTC Limited. You agree not to adapt, alter or create a derivative work from any of the material contained in this document or use it for any other purpose other than for your personal non-commercial use. FSTC Limited has taken all reasonable care to ensure that pages published in this document and on the MuslimHeritage.com Web Site were accurate at the time of publication or last modification. Web sites are by nature experimental or constantly changing. Hence information published may be for test purposes only, may be out of date, or may be the personal opinion of the author. Readers should always verify information with the appropriate references before relying on it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sword and the Scimitar Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    THE SWORD AND THE SCIMITAR PDF, EPUB, EBOOK David Ball | 784 pages | 05 Aug 2004 | Cornerstone | 9780099457954 | English | London, United Kingdom The Sword and the Scimitar PDF Book Set within wh A powerful historical masterpiece by an accomplished author, who brings history vividly to life in all its vibrancy and grittiness. Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, unless the item is handmade or was packaged by the manufacturer in non-retail packaging, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag. Sep 13, John Cheeseman rated it really liked it. Flag of Hayreddin Barbarossa. Andree Sanborn added it Mar 30, Download as PDF Printable version. He is best known for his "Eagle" series. Etymology Tolkien uses the term "scimitar" to describe any curved blade existing in Middle-earth. Raymond Chandler Paperback Books. In that case, we can't My only criticism is its somewhat dry style; the book reads like a long-form encyclopedia article. I am constantly in awe of how Simon Scarrow writes such starkly poignant and powerfully dramatic stories that reach out to your inmost core, touching you with authenticity, delicate ambience and realism. You know the saying: There's no time like the present The book is a very detailed account of the many battles between the two Abrahamic faiths. Namespaces Article Talk. How the heck is it possible the Islamic world was the torchbearer of science and knowledge for centuries given the realities shared in the book? Refresh and try again. Daily life in the medieval Islamic world. And I'm not a big "We are all the prisoners of our history.
    [Show full text]
  • Viewings by Appointment Only 6
    +44 (0)7866 424 803 [email protected] runjeetsingh.com CONTENTS Daggers 6 Swords 36 Polearms 62 Firearms 74 Archery 84 Objects 88 Shields 98 Helmets 104 Written by Runjeet Singh Winter 2015 All prices on request Viewings by appointment only 6 1 JAAM-DHAR An important 17th century Indian A third and fourth example are (DEMONS TOOTH) katar (punch dagger) from the published by Elgood 2004, p.162 KATAR Deccan plateau, possibly Golkonda (no.15.39) and Egerton (no.388), (‘shepherd’s hill’), a fort of Southern from Deccan and Lucknow India and capital of the medieval respectively. Both are late 17th DECCAN (SOUTH INDIA) sultanate of the Qutb Shahi dynasty or early 18th century and again 17TH CENTURY (c.1518–1687). follow the design of the katar in this exhibition. OVERALL 460 MM This rare form of Indian katar is the BLADE 280 MM earliest example known from a small The heavy iron hilt has intricate group, examples of which are found piercing and thick silver sheet is in a number of notable collections. applied overall. These piercing, These include no.133 in Islamic suggestive of flower patterns, softens Arms & Armour from Danish private the austerity of the design which Collections, dated to the early 18th can be related to architecture, for century. Probably Deccani in origin, example the flared side bars have the arabesques on the blade have tri-lobed ends. The architectural Shi’ite calligraphy. The features of this theme continues into the lower bar fine katar are closely related to the which connects to the blade; this has katar published here.
    [Show full text]
  • Army Dress Regulations (All Ranks)
    ARMY DRESS REGULATIONS (ALL RANKS) Part 4 – GENERAL STAFF DRESS REGULATIONS Ministry of Defence PS12(A) February 2017 GENERAL ORDER HORSE GUARDS 1st April, 1846 The Queen having been pleased to approve of the dress of the Officers of the Army being established according to the following descriptions, the Commander-in-Chief has received Her Majesty’s commands to enjoin the strictest attention thereto; and His Grace accordingly holds all General Officers, Colonels of Regiments, and Commanding Officers of Corps, responsible that these Orders for regulating the Dress shall be scrupulously obeyed. The Commander-in-Chief has received Her Majesty’s special commands to declare, that any Colonel or Commanding Officer who shall take upon himself to introduce or sanction the addition of an ornament, lace, or embroidery, or to sanction a deviation from the approved Patterns in any respect whatsoever, without due authority being previously obtained for that purpose, will incur Her Majesty’s displeasure. By Command of Field Marshall The Duke of Wellington, K.G., Commander-in-Chief Part 4 13 Apr 16 04.01. Scope. Part 4 of these Regulations deals with Corps and Regimental Dress Regulations. These sections cover Dress Regulations for the General Staff. 04.02. Contents. Contents are as follows: a. Section 1 – Introduction b. Section 2 – Field Marshal’s Dress c. Section 3 – General Officer’s Dress d. Section 4 – Brigadier and Colonels’ Dress e. Section 5 – Honorary and E1 Appointments and Retired Officers Dress f. Section 6 – Joint Service Dress Tables g. Section 7 – Guide to the Correct Order of Dress 04.03.
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief Study on Swords Mehmet Fahri
    A BRIEF STUDY ON SWORDS MEHMET FAHRİ FURAT What is a sword* ? Physically considered, the sword is a metal blade intended for cutting, thrusting, or cut and thrust. It is usually but not always composed of two parts. The first and principal is the blade proper(taban, namlu). It's cutting surface called the edge(yalım), and it's thrusting end is the point (yalman). The second part which adapts the weapon for readier use, is the fiilt(kabza), whose several sections form a complicated and a enormously varied whole. The grip is the outer case of the tang, the thin spike which projects from the shoulders or thickening of the blade, at the end opposed to the point. Sometimes there are two short teeth or projections from the an- , gles of the shoulders. These are called the "ears". The tang which is of many shapes,-long and short, straight-lined or curvilinear, plain of pierced for attachment-ends in the pommel or little ap- pleInto which it should be made fast by rivets or screws. The object of this oval of metal is to counterpoise the weight of the blade and to allow of artistic ornamentation. The grip of wood, bone, horn, ivory, metal, valuable stones and other materials covered with skin, cloth and various substances whipped round with cord or wire is projected at the end abutting upon the guard proper by the hilt piece which also greatly varies. It may, however, be reduced to two chief types- the guard against the thrust, and the guard against the cut.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ottoman Age of Exploration
    the ottoman age of exploration the Ottomanof explorationAge Giancarlo Casale 1 2010 3 Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further Oxford University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education. Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dares Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offi ces in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Th ailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright © 2010 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Casale, Giancarlo. Th e Ottoman age of exploration / Giancarlo Casale. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-19-537782-8 1. Turkey—History—16th century. 2. Indian Ocean Region—Discovery and exploration—Turkish. 3. Turkey—Commerce—History—16th century. 4. Navigation—Turkey—History—16th century. I. Title. DR507.C37 2010 910.9182'409031—dc22 2009019822 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper for my several
    [Show full text]
  • Sample File Gladius: Double-Edged Sword of Roman Design Between 65 and 70 Cm Long
    he sword has been an iconic weapon in role-playing games from the earliest days. Who Thasn’t played a game where at least one player played a character wielding a mighty sword — be it a simple longsword, heavy bastard sword, versatile short sword, massive two-handed sword, or dextrous rapier? Swords, in their many flavors and varieties have filled the pages of role-playing games, fantasy books, and other writings for generations. But when you play your games, whether set in far off fantasy lands or in Norman England, do your swords all look alike? What sets one longsword apart from another? Sure, they all do the same amount of damage, but what makes them special? Swords have been around in human history since the Bronze Age, or maybe even earlier. They reached their height of variety and versatility in the European Middle Ages and have found a place among the armies of the world, stretching across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In basic terms, a sword is a bladed (edged) weapon used for cutting and thrusting. The exact definition, style, and name depends on which age of history you are examining and the culture that created the weapon. From saifs, daos, khopesh, katanas, spatha, talwar, and Viking swords to Norman Longswords, Zweihanders, scimitars, rapiers, epee, and cavalry sabers, swords have found a place in our history. These weapons were all designed to meet a specific need for the wielder - whether functional or emotional or both. From purely utilitarian functionality to great works of art, swords run the gamut of form and function, which is probably why they are so important in role-playing games.
    [Show full text]