Armor
Armor, also known as body armor, is protective clothing designed to shield individuals from weapons like cutting edges and projectiles. Historically, armor can be categorized into three main types: fabric-based armor, mail armor made of interlinked rings, and rigid plate armor crafted from durable materials such as metal or wood. The use of armor dates back to ancient civilizations, with the earliest forms appearing in China as thick leather armor around the 11th century BCE, and notable examples from ancient Greece including bronze cuirasses and helmets worn by hoplites.
As military tactics evolved, so did armor technology. The fall of the Roman Empire saw a decline in armor sophistication, which was later revitalized with the development of chain mail during the Carolingian and Norman periods. However, as weaponry advanced—particularly with the introduction of powerful crossbows and firearms—traditional armor became less effective. By the 18th century, armor was mostly used for ceremonial purposes. In the 20th century, body armor experienced a resurgence during World War I, leading to modern innovations such as the bulletproof vest, which is a lightweight, synthetic evolution of ancient protective gear. Overall, armor has a rich history that reflects the changing dynamics of warfare and technology.
Subject Terms
Armor
Also called body armor, a protective clothing designed to shield the body from cutting edges, projectiles, and other weapons of war. Armor may be divided into three distinct types: first, that composed of layers of fabric, hide, or a combination thereof; second, mail, a flexible armor composed of numerous rings of steel or iron; and third, plate armor made of rigid materials such as horn, wood, or metal.
As early as the eleventh century b.c.e., the Chinese donned thick leather armor—the same type worn by the conquering Mongol hordes in the thirteenth century c.e.. In the West, the first notable armor consisted of the bronze cuirass, helmet, and shin greaves of the ancient Greek hoplites. With the rise of Rome and its well-trained, tightly organized legions came a new emphasis on economy and efficiency. This need was met by leather tunics netted with iron hoops and by iron helmets which, unlike the Greeks’ bronze helmets, also protected the neck. Western armor technology saw great reverses in the aftermath of Rome’s collapse. A significant revival began just prior to the ninth century, when the Carolingians and Normans developed chain mail suits. However, because such powerful weapons as the crossbow and English longbow could easily pierce mail, plate armor became the norm in the fourteenth century. Firearms would ultimately ring the knell of traditional armor, which was largely abandoned (save for ceremonial purposes) in the eighteenth century. Body armor was somewhat revived during World War I (1914–1918) with the reintroduction of the helmet as a standard piece of battlefield equipment. The bulletproof vest, a light torso armor of synthetic material, is a twentieth century descendant of the ancient cuirass.