Strategies of War Today, some people
overlook the middle ages’ strategies of war. Most incorrectly believe that the
medieval times period was to be a period in which strategy was displaced by a
combination of banditry and religious fanaticism. Medieval warfare demonstrated
both types of strategy, overthrow and exhaustion. For example, the Crusaders
states of the Middle East were gradually exhausted and overwhelmed by constant
raiding warfare and the weight of numbers. Also, medieval strategists used many
forms of warfare. Some of this included set-piece battles, of course, as well
as the petty warfare of raiding and harassment. However, they also improved a
third type of warfare, the siege.
Weapons of War Mace: It was heavier and more capable of inflicting greater damage, and was especially effective against more heavily armored enemies. Flail: This medieval flail weapon has an iron head attached to a steel chain for extra strength. When fully stretched, this flail reaches 30 inches and can penetrate even the best armor. Battle axe: Battle axes could be used to destructive effect. The medieval battle axe also called battle-ax is an axe particularly designed for combat. Axes made for battle ranged in weight from slightly over 0.5 kg to 3 kg, and in length from over 30 cm to upwards of 1.5 m. War hammer: This medieval weapon had a hammer head on one side and a spike on the other and is intended for close combat action. The design of war hammer is similar to normal hammer. Crossbow: consisted of a tiller, made of wood and often decorated with horn ivory or bone, to one end of which was attached a short bow Halberd: like an axe on a stick Caltrops: composed of four spikes or points arranged so that however is thrown on the ground, one spike always sticks up Batons: usually a short stick, commonly made of whalebone or wood, and used as a weapon since prehistoric times. Sword: single-handed small sword with pointed end and the other one is a powerful two-handed sword with a rounded end Spear: a pole weapon with a pointed blade at one end Longbow: It can be made from a single piece of wood and be easily and quickly crafted. They are shaped like the letter “D”. The longbow wood was protected with a rub of wax, resin, and fine tallow, and the arrow was a straight shaft with a sharp point on one end measuring about 3 feet long. Scimitar: The blade is single-edged and curved ending with a sharp point.The blades were ranged from 30 to 36 inches in length. The blade had two styles, such as narrowly curved and deeply curved. This medieval weapon could inflict serious injury to a knight in armor.