How does the sword change over time?

Question:

How does the sword change over time?

please hurry i need the ansewer for a school project please post ansewers BEFORE november 29, 06

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: the biggest changes were in metallurgy as the sword progressed form copper or bronze to iron then steel. As man increased his metal working abilities swords were made lighter and stroger, allowing specialization, including swords for hacking and slicing (usually wider front heavy blades) to piercing (usually thinner blades with sharper tips). The sword's form also changed in response to the types of armor available at any given time, i.e. with the advent of plate armor, slashing type swords were not as usefule as those designed to puncture the heavy plate or pinpoint the joints in the armor.

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