Humans have been manufacturing weapons since before recorded history. The oldest evidence of weaponry comes from Schöningen, Germany, in the form of four wooden spears dated to c. 400,000 BCE. Stone tips for spears have been found all over the world, the oldest to date in South Africa, dated to c. 64,000 BCE.
The earliest weapons are thought to have been stone-tipped spears, wooden clubs, stone axes, and stone knives used for hunting and defense before the development of the bow and arrow. Later, weapons were made of bronze and iron, allowing for the creation of the sword as it is known today. Weapons became increasingly sophisticated with more emphasis laid on developing those with greater range and force, eventually leading to the creation of the handgun. The oldest firearm found to date is the Heilongjiang Hand Cannon in China, dated to c. 1288.
The following gallery presents images of weapons from around the world from a prehistoric spear-thrower to a 15th-century shield. Images of people using the weapons are also included, though sparingly, as the focus is on the pieces themselves.
