Since the first flint spearheads emerged at the dawn of humanity around 600,000 years ago, edged weapons have played an incredible role in the shaping of human history. As well as being deadly weapons of war, swords, sabers, spears, and lances have been used the world over to hunt for survival and to battle for honor. Elaborately decorated and imbued with countless myths, it is little wonder that these weapons - often works of art as much as tools of war - have been some of history's most powerful status symbols. This beautifully presented book traces the fascinating history of swords, sabers, spears, and lances from their origination through to the 20th century. From Palaeolithic origins and the appearance of the first swords in Bronze Age Mesopotamia, it describes how the development of edged weapons and military tactics brutally shaped the great civilizations of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and looks at the significance of the sword in the artistic and mystical traditions of the Celts. It moves on to the medieval period - the apogee of the sword as a battle weapon - and delves into the world of the medieval knights and Crusaders, as well as the Middle Eastern armies they fought. From there this broad-ranging book examines the variety of edged weapons from around the world, from the Samurai sword to the Sudanese Kaskara. It looks at the technical and military accomplishments leading up to the 20th century and the demise of the sword as a military weapon. At the heart of the book is a comprehensive and fully illustrated weapons directory, featuring more than 500 examples of edged weapons from around the world. From the swords and spears of Ancient Egypt to the pike and thrustingpolearms of medieval Europe and from the cavalry sabers of the 17th century to the swords of the Russian Empire, each entry is accompanied with a fabulous photograph of the weapon plus key information on date, origin and length. This book will be an indispensable resource for the keen enthusiast and professional collector alike, while the 800 beautiful photographs and illustrations of these extraordinary pieces of craftsmanship will fascinate anyone with an interest in the conflicts, weapons, and warriors that have created our historical landscape.