| Knight armor, in its beginning stages, was used sparingly in conjunction with mail shirts. The 'mail' was made of tiny, circular pieces of metal linked together to form a line of protection. Due to the limitations of chain mail, armor workers sought other ways to defend warriors and knights against their foes' blows. Experiments were brought forth, combining metal plates with the traditional mail.
At first, medieval armorwas used to cover the upper body of the wearer; it was worn over or under the chain mail. Later, modifications were implemented and additional plates were proposed to protect the shoulder and elbow areas; upper thighs; and, the head and face areas of the body. Knight armor was constructed with the hopes of minimizing bruising; preventing broken bones; and, stopping the penetration of opposing weapons.
Those engaged in constructing medieval knight armor became savvy in using metals. The 'suit of armor' was slowly coming to fruition. Further modifications had knight armor almost completely encasing its wearer. Overlapping plates were used to cover any spots becoming open during movement. Chain mail was implemented in spots where it was impossible to use metal plates.
When knight armor reached its eclipse, warriors enjoyed complete protection, while the weight was evenly distributed and movement was minimally limited. Wearers could mount their horses, traverse the land on foot, and engage in battle. Suit of armor metal plates were designed to grant complete freedom of movement while maintaining absolute guard.
The evolution of firearms led to the eventual decay of medieval armor. Mobility and quickness became greater assets during battle, so heavy plates associated to a suit of armor became less advantageous than in previous eras. Though the traditional suit of armor fell into obscurity, warriors still used pieces of knight armor during battle such as shields, swords, and knight helmets.
In today's world, armory has evolved into sleek and super-light materials that are not very comparable to traditional knight armor, yet present and past armor serve the same purpose. The evolution of armor will continue as new ways of protecting and battling wearers are devised. |
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