February 21, 2017
A staff weapon, or polearm, is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range. Typical defense against these weapons in the early European Middle Ages were round shields with light, non-splitting wood like linden, fir, alder or poplar, usually reinforced with leather on one or both sides and occasionally metal rims, encircling a central metal boss.
In class activities:
- Listed many different forms of staff weapons
- Discussed the importance of soldiers working together, in particular the Greek Phalynx formation
- Examined the use of horses in warfare & discussed lances
- Labeled the various parts of a halberd
- Made our own foam and duct-tape shields
