Personal Armor
Background
Soldiers have been wearing armor since warfare has existed.
Although I won't be talking about those pieces of armor (considering they don't have names other than the raw materials it is made of).
I will talk about sets of armor from 1700 BCE 500 BCE.
Also, this article will mainly focus on armor from countries near the Mediterranean.
These specific armors had a huge impact on ancient warfare and personal use.
Basics Of This Article
If you were looking for armor such as Chinese Mirror Plate, then this is not the correct article. Another thing that this text will not include is sets of armors that are only used people such as generals and rulers as such a small number of people would not change the swing of battle, save for the morale loss of their men should they die (which is usually unlikely in the first place considering they would probably position themselves in the safest location possible). If your okay with those restriction, then please proceed reading and enjoy.
Lamellar Armor
Lamellar is armor that consists of hundred of individual rectangular scales that are pierced and laced together to form the piece.
The scales themselves would be made of materials such as leather, iron, or bronze.
For leather scales, they would be hardened to form cuir bouilli, or boiled leather.
This armor was mostly highly effective against certain sword attachs and hard blows to the chest cavity and surrounding organs.
Lamellar Armor Time Periods & Use
Lamellar armor was believed to be first used in 1700 BCE by the chariot drivers of Egyptians and Sumerians, although these are only seen as pictures.
The first pieces of lamellar armor found archaeologically was in Assyria from around 900 - 600 BCE.
In later periods, they would be used together with Mail Hauberks.
In the Middle Ages, they would be used by armies from steppes as a cuirass, or a piece of armor covering the body from neck to waist, because it was could easily produced and required little maintenance.
It was also used by the Byzantine soldiers, especially those who were mounted. Lamellar was so deflective that where a rider might be dead without it he would be completely safe as the blow would simply skim over.
Next Article For More...
Check my next article "ancient armor" for the continuation and a new add-on of personal Armor.