ABSTRACT
We have seen that down to the time of Charles the Great there had been comparatively little alteration in the character of arms and armour since the days of the first foundation of the Teutonic kingdoms in the fifth century. In the ninth century, however, we find a gradual change coming over the outer appearance of the warriors of Christendom. Not only do a much greater proportion of them wear defensive arms, but the arms themselves begin to change in appearance. All the alterations are in the direction of securing greater protection for the wearer. The next step in the development of the piece of armour was that it was joined to the mail-shirt so as to form a single garment, like an Esquimaux skin-coat. Offensive arms did not alter their shape nearly so much as defensive during the years 800–1100.
