دانلود کتاب The Spatha: The Roman Long Sword

توضیحاتی در مورد کتاب به زبان اصلی :

The Roman long sword, thespatha, was central to the Romans' defense of their empire--this title investigates the origins, development, combat use, and lasting legacy of this feared close-combat weapon.

Adopted from the Celts in the 1st century BC, thespatha,a lethal and formidable chopping blade, became the primary sword of the Roman soldier in the Later Empire. Over the following centuries, the blade, its scabbard, and its system of carriage underwent a series of developments, until by the 3rd century AD it was the universal sidearm of both infantry and cavalry.

Thanks to its long reach, thespathawas the ideal cavalry weapon, replacing the longgladius hispaniensisin the later Republican period. As the manner in which Roman infantrymen fought evolved, styles of hand-to-hand combat changed so much that thegladiuswas superseded by the longerspathaduring the 2nd century AD. Like thegladius, thespathawas technologically advanced, with a carefully controlled use of steel. Easy maintenance was key to its success and thespathawas designed to be easily repaired in the field where access to a forge may have been limited. It remained the main Roman sword into the Late Roman period and its influence survived into the Dark Ages with Byzantine, Carolingian, and Viking blades.

Drawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts, and the results of the latest scientific analyses of the blades, renowned authority M.C. Bishop reveals the full history of the development, technology, training, and use of thespathathe sword that defended an empire.