Body Armor

Armor is protective clothing that soldiers wear in battle.

Personal armor protected a soldier’s body while leaving the hands free to use weapons. The earliest body armor was similar to a long shield. It was a full-length tunic made from leather or strong plant fibers.

This armor was simple to make and light enough for easy movement. It protected the chest, stomach, back, thighs, and legs. A soldier wearing it needed only a small shield to protect the arms and face.

During the late Bronze Age, people developed the coat of mail. This armor was made from hundreds of small metal pieces. The pieces overlapped like fish scales and were sewn onto a cloth or leather tunic.

Records from Nuzi, an ancient city, show that one coat required 400–600 large metal scales and several hundred smaller scales. Armor makers used smaller scales and narrower rows around the throat and neck, where the soldier needed more movement.

The coat of mail was flexible enough for a soldier to move freely. Its metal scales also gave better protection than leather or plant fibers alone.

See also Armor and Weapons.