weapons+technology+By+Micky

Weapon technology

**Prehistoric weapons ** Humans have always fought with weapons, even in prehistoric times. Back then they used spears, clubs, and axes. There were even prehistoric bows. Their clubs were made of wood, but were surprisingly effective. Their axes were made of wood and stone like a tomahawk from the native americans. The sword was not practical until they became skilled with metal. In Australia, Aborigines threw boomerangs that were large and were not designed to come back (for the safety of the thrower).  **Sumerian weapons ** The Sumerians lived in what is now Iraq. They were a highly civilized society. They fought in chariots pulled by donkeys and used bows and arrows. Just like cavemen they used clubs, spears, and axes. They wore leather armor studded with bronze, with rectangular shields and copper helmets. Roman Weapons A Roman legionary wore a helmet called a cassis. His torso was protected by segmented armour called lorica segmentata. He was protected by a curved shield made of layers of wood covered in leather. A Roman shield was called a scutum. He carried a throwing spear called a pilum but his main weapon was a short sword called a gladius. There were also auxiliary soldiers, both infantry and cavalry. When they finished their service (after 25 years) they became Roman citizens. **Greek weapons** Greek armies were based on infantry called hoplites. The hoplite had to buy his own armour and weapons so he usually came from the middle class. Hoplites were protected by helmets, breastplates and backplates and shin guards called greaves. They carried round, bronze shields. Hoplites carried 1.8 metre long spears made of wood with a metal point. They also carried swords and daggers. When they went into battle Hoplites marched in lines with their shields overlapping to form a metal 'wall'. Hoplites were from Sparta. They were led by a king named Leonidus.

**16th Century Weapons** In the 16th century guns transformed warfare. Early guns were lit by a slow match (string was soaked in saltpetre and when it was lit it smouldered). The slow match was touched to the gunpowder to ignite it. However in the early 16th century the wheelock was invented. A metal wheel spun against a piece or iron pyrites generating sparks that ignited the gunpowder. As a result most cavalry stopped using lances. Instead they carried two or three pistols each, ready to fire, and sabres. The musket took very long to reload and the gunmen needed protection so they were protected by pikemen.

**Modern weapons** The most common modern crew-served optical weapon system is the [|Protector M151] . This system is often equipped with [|MPMG]  as the [|M2] . The <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Metal Storm] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> 36 barrel prototype is capable of firing at a rate of 1 million rounds per minute, but is far from being a usable weapon The current generation of modern weapons are usually regarded to be made after the second world war, and are mostly of the assault rifle type. Many weapons such as the <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[|G36] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> and <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[|M16] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> have adapted Picatinny type rails which allow for many types of optics, handles, and grenade launchers increasing a soldiers effectiveness. They are capable of firing at a rate of 700-950 bullets per minute. They are high velocity impact weapons. There are also lasers to shoot missles and other projectiles out of the sky