Who invented it? - Historum

**Salah** · April 15th, 2012, 03:28 PM

Though its fairly easy to pinpoint weapons and pieces of equipment that may have influenced the results of battles throughout history, sometimes its less easy to pinpoint who first invented the item in question.

So in this thread, tell us what you know about the origins of weapons, styles of armor or other forms of military technology.

Chainmail, for instance, seems to have originated (at least in Europe) amongst Celtic tribes in the 4th-3rd Centuries BCE.

Minksterella · April 16th, 2012, 12:52 PM

Most historians agree that it was Shaka himself that invented the Iklwa, but some disagree. And the same goes for the shield. The Nguni people had had shields before, but it was Shaka who made it bigger and created more uses for it.

And I suppose most people know about the weapons and reforms that Marius and Gustavus Adolphus implemented

**bartieboy** · April 16th, 2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minksterella

Most historians agree that it was Shaka himself that invented the Iklwa, but some disagree. And the same goes for the shield. The Bantu people had had shields before, but it was Shaka who made it bigger and created more uses for it.

And I suppose most people know about the weapons and reforms that Marius and Gustavus Adolphus implemented

Well can we really call that an invention? Europeans and Asians had been using shields for 2000 years when shaka zulu showed up...

Minksterella · April 16th, 2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartieboy

Well can we really call that an invention? Europeans and Asians had been using shields for 2000 years when shaka zulu showed up...

I was referring to the specific type that the Nguni used, and how he changed that. Just like some one invented the Hoplon, someone invented the scutum, someone invented the targe.
And for extra information the Zulu shield is called the Ishlangu.

**bartieboy** · April 16th, 2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minksterella

I was referring to the specific type that the Nguni used, and how he changed that. Just like some one invented the Hoplon, someone invented the scutum, someone invented the targe.
And for extra information the Zulu shield is called the Ishlangu.

Oh yes you are probably right about that

**bartieboy** · April 16th, 2012, 02:30 PM

Two dutch navy officers Jan Jacob Wichers and J. C. van Pappelendam invented the Snorker/Snuiver enabling submarines to stay underwater for a much longer period of time.

**dagul** · April 16th, 2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minksterella

I was referring to the specific type that the Nguni used, and how he changed that. Just like some one invented the Hoplon, someone invented the scutum, someone invented the targe.
And for extra information the Zulu shield is called the Ishlangu.

With all due respect to your regard to Zulu and Shaka but I think swords and shields had been invented long time ago. Perhaps what they did is called innovation. It does not mean that when a sword is provided with a particular shape and name by the one who did it, it ceases to be a such, it is still a sword made of iron or whatever metal it might be. Like the Japanese samurai is peculiar sword but it does not mean that it is an invention.

**bartieboy** · April 16th, 2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagul

With all due respect to your regard to Zulu and Shaka but I think swords and shields had been invented long time ago. Perhaps what they did is called innovation. It does not mean that when a sword is provided with a particular shape and name by the one who did it, it ceases to be a such, it is still a sword made of iron or whatever metal it might be. Like the Japanese samurai is peculiar sword but it does not mean that it is an invention.

I see the first sabre to be an invention... Just like the first machete...
These are no less inventions than the Garand to the m14