[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-140417-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":80,"doc-detail-140417-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","defensive-weapons-shields-and-armour","Defensive Weapons - Shields and Armour","","Defensive weapons examines how warfare evolves through two opposing forces: methods of killing and methods of preventing injury. It explains defence as the systematic protection of the body, primarily through purposeful equipment such as shields and armour, rather than improvised cover. The text compares how different regions balanced heat, mobility, and tactical needs, describes the later impact of firearms, and outlines materials, designs, and major categories of shields and armour, including mail, riot-protection adaptations, and engineering-driven protective solutions.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/defensive-weapons-shields-and-armour/140417/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/defensive-weapons-shields-and-armour/140417.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Aurelia","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-11","2026-08-24",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":33},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What distinguishes defence within warfare in this text?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"Defence is framed as the protective counterpart to killing methods, focusing on preventing people from being killed through purposeful equipment.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"Why did shields and armour become obsolete in many places?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"The rapid advancement of firearms from the 15th century and the mounting cost of equipping large armies gradually rendered traditional shields and armour less effective.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"What are the three principal types of shields described?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"The text lists circular shields (often convex with a central boss), rectangular or elongated oval shields (flat or outward-curved), and kite or triangular shields that taper to a lower point.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},140417,1787574410,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,87,91,95,100,105,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":84,"show_sort_weight":85,"slug":86},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":88,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":90},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":92,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":131},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":111,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":33,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":96,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":79,"read_time":143},1099514068365,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/10000253d8d9f28188e?_k=1776742907772140068","Discover...  \nDEFENSIVE WEAPONS  \nThe technological and tactical evolution of warfare can be broken down into two basic, equal forces: ways to kill people and ways to keep people from being killed. The latter is what we term ‘defence’. Of course, the use of any object to protect oneself from injury can be termed,‘self-defence’, be it a saucepan or a chair to hide behind. However, defence was most commonly and effectively practised through objects designed for purpose, namely, shields and armour. This specificity means shields and armour are rare examples of weapons of war that have not been developed from agricultural or hunting tools. It is important to remember that shieldsand armour are weapons, since a weapon is defined as any implement used in combat.  \nUsage  \nShields and armour were used alone or together depending on a variety of factors. For the peoples of the East African plains or the Western Australian deserts, shields were the bedrock of their defensive systems, extensive armour being impractical in the intense heat. Even in temperate climes, full armour could be heavy and restricting to move in, a fatal flaw if a quick reaction to a sword or incoming projectile was needed. Shields could also be discarded easily in an emergency, or if the attack slackened. On the other hand, encompassing armour offered more protection from all sides. It also freed up the use of the shield-bearing arm to use another weapon orto aid balance, which was especially useful for horsemounted warriors.  \nShields and armour were used in combination in many cultures. However, the rapid advancement of firearms from the 15th century, and the mounting cost of equipping large armies, gradually rendered shieldsand then armour obsolete. However, this decline did not happen everywhere at once. The Persian-inspired model of mail shirt, domed helmet and round, incised metal shield was used in the Caucasus area of Russia until two hundred years ago. Right up until the early 20th century there have been examples of the peoples of Africa, Oceania and the Americas attempting to resist gun-using Europeans with traditional armour and shields, usually with fatal results.  \nMail shirt, helmet and shield, Georgia, the Caucasus, Russia; 1911.29. 1, .2 and .4  \nIn the late 20th century there was a renaissance in body defence. Science caught up with ballistics to develop resistant (though not always ‘bullet proof’) equipment.  \nRiot police today are issued with protective vests and polycarbonate shields in order to tackle potentially violent situations. It is interesting that as well as new materials such as reinforced metals, fibre-glass, ceramics and plastics, modern armours also use specialised nylon-based textiles. Armours have, ina sense, come full circle and are not totally different from the leather and fibre versions used thousands of years ago.  \nShields  \nTrue shields have some form of grip. This is usually a hand-grip set into the backor a larger strap that can be hooked through the arm or looped over the shoulder. Shields have been used on every continent since early times, producing a rich variety of shapes, weights and styles. Materials used to make shields include metal, wood, wickerwork, plastic, leather, hide, skins and plant fibres, as well as decorative additions such as metallic fittings, paint, lacquer, shell, hair, jewels and fabric.  \nThere are three principal types of shield:  \n• the circular shield, usually convex in front, with a boss in the centre; such as those found in Ethiopia, or the famous Indian dhal, with four bosses  \n• the rectangular or elongated oval shield, either flat or curved outward, common in Australia and Melanesia  \n• the kite or triangular shield tapering to a lower point, which was the prevailing form in medieval Europe  \nArmour  \nBasketry shield, Solomon Islands, Melanesia; 1895.22.196  \nThe rich and varied types of armour are all stylistic interpretations of a specific typeof clothing. They are also works of engi","cbCait5lhEM9DnbE","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCait5lhEM9DnbE","pdf",336355,"English","# Usage\n## East African plains and Western Australian deserts\n## Temperate regions and mobility constraints\n## Firearms and the decline of traditional armour\n# Shields\n## Grip and materials\n## Main types of shields\n# Armour\n## Engineering and clothing interpretations\n## Trade-offs: protection vs mobility\n## Construction methods and deflection surfaces","[{\"question\":\"What distinguishes defence within warfare in this text?\",\"answer\":\"Defence is framed as the protective counterpart to killing methods, focusing on preventing people from being killed through purposeful equipment.\"},{\"question\":\"Why did shields and armour become obsolete in many places?\",\"answer\":\"The rapid advancement of firearms from the 15th century and the mounting cost of equipping large armies gradually rendered traditional shields and armour less effective.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the three principal types of shields described?\",\"answer\":\"The text lists circular shields (often convex with a central boss), rectangular or elongated oval shields (flat or outward-curved), and kite or triangular shields that taper to a lower point.\"}]","Defensive Weapons - Shields and Armour | PDF",13]