The Defensive Armour and the Weapons and Engines of War of Mediæval Times, and of the "Renaissance."

This volume offers a clear, chronological tour through the development of defensive armour and the weapons that defined medieval battlefields and the early Renaissance. Drawing on the author’s own collection and dozens of specimens from major European holdings, it pairs concise descriptions with fifty‑one detailed illustrations, allowing listeners to picture everything from early mail shirts to the elaborate transitional Gothic suits of the 15th century. The author also explains how variations in metalworking, regional terminology, and the frequent re‑use of older blades create challenges for dating and classifying pieces.

Beyond mere cataloguing, the book delves into the practical realities of arms production—smiths’ marks, the evolution of steel hardness, and the ways warriors adapted older gear to new tactics. By comparing artifacts across borders, it highlights the fluid exchange of ideas that shaped armor design throughout Europe. Listeners will come away with a solid grounding in the technical language and historical context that underpins the fascinating world of medieval warfare.