Weapons of the
medieval ages evolved with the change of armor (my observation), but
was also propelled by the invention and improvement of ballistics.
A large list of medieval weapons and their description can be found
here
There are many
different kinds of melee weapons. They are classified by the way they
kill, and how they are mounted
Polearms
Polearms are generally
cutting or impaling blades/points mounted on a long staff. An example
of this is the halberd, multipurpose impaling/cutting weapon. The
halberd has an axehead mounted on a long staff that one can swing.
Also, variations of this weapon are called the poleaxe. A spear may
be counted as a polearm
Blades
Blades are usually
mounted with a handle, long or short, used for thrusting, or cutting.
Blade weapons come as single wield and two-handed wield weapons. Much
attention was focused on training warriors specialized in these weapons
for they were versatile and easy to handle. From daggers to great
swords, or two-handed swords, blades are perhaps the most diverse
class of weapons (maybe matched only by clubs, man's oldest weapon
;-) )
Axes/Maces/Hammers
As armor became
thicker and thicker, swords were found to be ineffective against tough
steel. Axes struck hard and pierced armor fairly easily. Spiked or
flanged maces were often used to crush bones and armor. War-Hammers
were perhaps one of the most fearful of them all, large with a heavy
head, capable of knocking out or killing a knight inside his armor
with one blow.
Clubs, etc
These were used
in various forms by various groups of people. Often, the weapon was
upgraded into a form of mace or flail. Flails were fairly large handles
attached to a head by a chain. The heads were sometimes spiked, and
sometimes just heavy weights that were used to strike, crush, or pierce
an opponent's armor.
Ballistics
As missile weapons
grew in power and accuracy, armor was rendered useless. The crossbow
could pierce thick plate with a heavy bolt. Longbows at close range
were quite deadly, and could be shot at an alarmingly fast rate. The
catapult, ballista, trebuchet, and most importantly, the cannon ended
the feudal era and period of history, as cannons destroyed the protection
castle walls previously gave to peasants. These peasants in turn,
had no reason to work for their local warlord, and the feudal system
failed.