Spear
Humanity's oldest weapon
The spear is the oldest and most universal weapon in human history. A simple design — a metal (or stone/bone in prehistoric times) point on a 150-250cm wooden shaft — it is the cheapest and easiest weapon to produce, and therefore the first developed by every civilization. Effective with just thrusting motions requiring minimal training, and in close formation, collective strength compensates for individual skill deficiencies. Virtually every army in history used the spear as a core weapon — Greek phalanx, Roman auxiliaries, medieval militia alike.
Origin
One of humanity's first weapons, used since the Paleolithic era roughly 400,000 years ago. Wooden spears discovered at Schoningen, Germany, dating to approximately 300,000 years ago, are the oldest surviving examples. Developed independently on every continent.
Features
- Total length 150-250cm (infantry standard)
- Cheapest and easiest weapon to mass-produce
- Effective combat with minimal training
- Maximized power in close formations
- Dual use: thrusting and throwing
- Oldest weapon type in human history
Usage
Core weapon of close formations (phalanx, shield wall), where infantry thrust spears in unison from behind shields to block enemy approaches.
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