foreign influence in european arns production?

[Gonzalo G]

Originally Posted by ausjulius

i was woundering rely to what exstent outside influence effected the development of european weaponry,it is clear that for the most part european weapons have influence the outside would greatly since the 8th or 9th century.. particulary in the near east,
what i am woundering how much influence did europe have from the outside....

Specifically, in which way european swords influenced the rest of the world in the 8th-9th Century? To begin with, eastern gothic swords were influenced by the chinese Han. You can find more references in Oakeshott´s The Archaeology of Weapons. Manolo references are good. Armenian influences over polish sabres are also important. Mamelukes had some role, also. The pattern welding made on swords after the crusades to this days, made originally as an intent to reproduce the damascus steel, is a result, in a way, of eastern influences. The jineta spanish swords, were the result of berber influences. All european sabres from the 18th-19th Century, were the result of the ottoman influences mentioned by Manolo. The jineta style of fighting used by the spanish cavalry since the 16th Century, as important as the Tercio´s battle formations and tactics in giving Spain the supremacy over occidental europe, were also the result of berber influence. Damascening swords was the result of moor influences. Venetian curved short swords of several kinds are the result of eastern influences. There were yataghans made in the Balkans and Greece, which in turn influenced some italian style of swords. Just remember that part of Europe was in the hands of the ottoman turks until relatively very recent times ....I can´t recall some more examples in this moment, but I´m sure you can find more if you make a search.
Regards

Gonzalo

Gonzalo