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Sparta dominated Greece for nearly two centuries. They fought many wars against the other Greek states and fought two major wars with Persia alone and with the Peloponnesian League. Their army was depleted greatly by these wars and finally fell from power; ironically from a two pronged attack from above and below- a war with Thebes and a massive earthquake that hit Sparta killing thousands. Mother Nature did what no one else could. From their fie...

Every sword Windlass® makes is proudly hand forged by master bladesmiths from a single ingot of high carbon steel. Windlass chooses the designations 1065, 1075, 1085, or 1095 depending on the application. After the ingot is heated and hammered (sometimes by as many as 3 smiths alternating different sized hammers!) into its general shape a highly experienced grinder gives it its final shape and the blade is polished.Tempering takes place to relie...

The style of fighting with sword and shield varied little through out Europe and consisted mostly of cutting at the foe from behind the shield. With the sword drawn back it could be held out of sight of an opponent behind the shield so they could not see where a cut was coming from. This type of deception is why the quickest and most aggressive usually won an encounter- you had little warning where to move your shield to block a blow. It s...