or region. This book sets out to redress this imbalance by describing the development of the metallurgy of swords from the early iron age up to the 16th century. It covers all the major techniques used in Europe during this period from the simplest to the most advanced and explains how these changes affected the properties of the swords. Here is a sample of a rough outline of the chapters: Chapter 1 Introduction- setting the scene and the need for this book Chapter 2 Iron Age Swords: their manufacturing process and characteristics Chapter 3 Roman Swords: legacies of the Empire and the evolution of the technology Chapter 4 The Middle Ages: The Viking Age and feudal kingdoms Chapter 5 The Crusades and the Islamic World: exchange of knowledge and technology Chapter 6 The Renaissance: New technologies and approaches Chapter 7 The Age of Exploration: Steel and the conquest of new worlds Chapter 8 The 16th Century: The apogee of sword making and its decline The Sword and the Crucible: A History of the Metallurgy of European Swords up to the 16th Century, by [Author's name], is a comprehensive study of the development of metallurgy of swords in Europe from the early iron age to the 16th century.

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