History

Prehistoric weapons

An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools.

Very simple weapon use has been observed among chimpanzees^[1], leading to speculation that early hominids began their first use of weapons as early as five million years ago.^[2] These would have been wooden clubs, spears, and unshaped stones—none of which would leave an unambiguous record.

The earliest unambiguous weapons are:

• Eight wooden throwing spears, the Schöninger Speere, dated to around 400,000 years old.^[3]
• By 250,000 years ago wooden spears were made with fire-hardened points^{[citation needed]}
• The oldest atlatl dates back to 27,000 years ago^{[citation needed]}.
• Throwing sticks are also some of the earliest types of weapons.

Ancient and classical weapons

A four-wheeled ballista drawn by armored cataphract horses, c. 400.

Ancient weapons were evolutionary improvements of late neolithic implements, but then significant improvements in materials and crafting techniques created a series of revolutions in military technology:

The development of metal tools, beginning with copper during the Copper Age (about 3,300 BC) and followed shortly by bronze led to the Bronze Age sword and similar weapons.

The first defensive structures and fortifications appeared in the Bronze Age.^[4] Indicating an increased need for security. Weapons designed to breach fortifications followed soon after, for example the battering ram was in use by 2500 BC. ^[4]

Although early Iron Age swords were not superior to their bronze predecessors, once iron-working developed - around 1200 BC in Sub-Saharan Africa^[5], iron began to be used widely in weapon production^[6] because iron ore was much more readily available than the copper and tin required to create bronze.

Cavalry developed once horses were bred to support the weight of a man . The horse extended the range and increased the speed of attack, but was not a weapon as much as it provided an enhanced capability.

Domestication of the horse and widespread use of spoked wheels by ca. 2000 BC^[7], led to the light, horse-drawn chariot. The mobility provided by chariots were important during this era^{[citation needed]}. Spoke-wheeled chariot usage peaked around 1300 BC and then declined, ceasing to be militarily relevant by the 4th century BC^[8].

Ships built as weapons or warships such as the Triremes were in use by the 7th century BC^[9]. These ships were eventually replaced by larger ships by the 4th century BC.

Tactics and organization

As technology advanced, so did the level of organization of peoples eventually leading to the development of empires and armies. Professional armies allowed aggressive, militaristic states to emerge.

While early Greek armies focused on physical training and individual ability, a key advancement of the Roman army was the development complex tactics used to gain additional advantage over their enemies.