Mankind has come to a long and thorny path before becoming such as they are today. People made a big leap to lifestyle-like animals to a high-tech world in just a couple of hundred years. And despite the fact that now most of the world supports the world a couple of centuries ago, we could not imagine the solution of conflicts without bloodshed. Such aggressive character defines human because our ancestors had to be like that to survive in the harsh conditions. So on the question of which came first weapons or protection from it, it is safe to say that at first there was a weapon and tried to find him a good reaction.
Therefore, the evolution of remedies closely with the development of weapons. In the matter of things which greatly changed the industry, there are several important episodes of antiquity such as the Middle Ages, the first appearance of a firearm, and its further development. I shall begin my research with the fact that historians were of the opinion that the first armor was made of animal hide, for its time it was a very good Rotate because a person could use the skin not only as a means of protection, but also masking by other animals, or to protect from the cold.
The main enemy at that time were wild animals or people with blunt weapons such as stones, clubs. But with the development of crafts and the advent of new tools appeared more deadly weapons such as the bow and swords to spears. The emergence of effective ranged weapon made people worry about how to protect yourself from this threat and emerged cloth armor. It often repeats the kind of civilian clothes, made of a large number (5 to 30) glued or quilted layers of matter, has been common in many nations.
They were used by Egyptians, Greeks, Macedonians, the Aztecs. Cloth armor had a different weight – mostly from two to six kilograms, the cost of them was relatively low in connection with which they were quite rampant. One of the best representatives of armor were Chinese paper armor that was able to withstand the hit of the boom that gave a great advantage to the soldiers at the time.
Despite the fact that most of these armor used cloth this type of protection could hold up to the XIX century and correctly treatment can be very effective against firearms, such as the legendary felted wool cloak from the Caucasus practically cuts the saber withstand arrows and even 7 mm bullets from rifles (from a distance of about 100 meters) and well absorb shocks. Protection was increased even more standing on the shoulders of the bone basis. However, although the pillow can not be cut, it is easy to pierce, – burka easily made its way with a spear or a bayonet.
Another important step in the development of armor steel armor Leather principle of their creation was not fast. Leather for the manufacture of armor was taken most rigid and thick – preferably buffalo. Rhino, however, would have been even better, but to get his skin was often very problematic. Then, by digestion in oil skin provide additional toughness. Breastplate Leather weighing more than 4 kg, and full body armor – 15 kg, but this armor still made its way from a crossbow with arrows from a distance of 20-100 meters (depending on the design of a crossbow and the number of layers of the skin), and at short ranges and from a powerful bow.
As can be seen from the above types of armor me the most dangerous weapon at that time was considered the crossbow which is due to its property could easily pierce the armor of any practical time. At the same time, it became popular metal plates are worn over some more armor or combined leather armor with metal inserts that provide additional protection against short-range weapons. Ideological follower of the armor steel breastplates entirely made of steel and, unlike other types of armor, most of which have disappeared by the end of the XVII century (at least in Europe), the cavalry combat cuirass used until the middle of the XIX century.
Despite this, the French cavalry continued to wear the breastplate on the field in 1914. I wonder what Chest design was so good that became the prototype for all future body armor. There is quite an interesting variant of armor called Lamellar Armor. The name “Lamellar Armor” comes from the Latin word lamella, which means “plate” or “flake”. So-called armor, which is woven between a plate. By the embodiment of this idea, people have started very early, and the first scaly armor was made in Mesopotamia more of copper.
Then they began to make bronze scales and later steel. In the latter form, it has become very popular. Of all the varieties of armor, scales provided the most reliable – made its way only by a bullet, and even then not all. A serious drawback of the scales was its weight – plates were practically in two layers and have a significant thickness – still steel was brittle. So, if a continuous jointed knight’s armor of the XV century weighed only 25 kilograms, the scaly armor, only covering the chest, back, and hips, weighing slightly less.
Scales used the Assyrians, and the Greek hoplites, and Roman knights and Russian combatants. One of the most popular types of armor were chain armor, which was not only comfortable, but also have good protective ability against many types of weapons this time, and thanks to its design, they can be combined for example with leather armor or armor. Mail is, starting with 12 in. , Chainmail sleeves and hood, complete with optional steel mail stockings. Armor protects the body completely, weighed relatively little (8 kg, complete with stockings up to 40kg), movements are not particularly shy.
In the most developed regions of Europe, chainmail became available to the average citizen only in the XIV century. As a result, we have that humanity had quite a few different types of protection, are simply improved the old version with the help of new technology, or relying on the most common and deadly weapon of its time. Despite the fact that each armor was a means by which it would be possible to break it, but it was an answer to any weapon with the development of science. All such military affairs gave a great impetus to the development of technologies that help humanity to develop in difficult times.