A knight in shining armor, wielding a sword or spear, is an iconic figure of the Middle Ages. However, during this era, more advanced weaponry emerged, including guns that fired bullets.
This raises an intriguing question: could a warrior’s metal armor stop a bullet? American experts shared their insights with Live Science.
Armor vs. Bullets
The exact timeline of the Middle Ages is a subject of long-standing debate. Scholars typically place this period between 500 and 1500 AD. While this era is traditionally associated with Europe, some historians also link it to the Middle East and China.
Interestingly, gunpowder was invented in China around 1200 years ago. The weaponry that utilized gunpowder gradually spread across Eurasia.
Meanwhile, craftsmen around the world were developing various types of armor. The most famous among them was plate armor, which consisted of interconnected metal plates covering the entire body of the warrior. Plate armor became widespread in Europe starting in the 13th century. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, by the 15th century, it had become the dominant form of protection. However, encounters between knights and firearms were relatively rare.
“During the late Middle Ages and early modern period, roughly from 1380 to 1600, there was a sort of technological arms race between weapon makers and armorers,” noted Roger Poli, an associate professor of history at the University of Central Arkansas.
As firearms evolved, armor manufacturers began creating stronger and more complex armor. In turn, their opponents developed more sophisticated weaponry. But were medieval armors effective against bullets fired from guns?
According to Roger Poli, the generation of the armor and weaponry played a significant role. “I suspect that most pistols of that period would not have been able to penetrate a top-quality suit of armor,” the expert stated. Firearms of the Middle Ages could not shoot as quickly or frequently as modern ones.
Bulletproof vests worn by soldiers today are designed to protect against firearms. These pieces of body armor slow down and absorb the impact. “When a bullet hits a bulletproof vest, the strong layered fibers that make up the armor slow the bullet down and distribute its force,” explained the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S.
Experts assert that armor in the Middle Ages was not particularly sophisticated. Most armor capable of stopping bullets was likely developed after the medieval period.
Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers of protective gear did not attempt to keep pace with the rapidly advancing firearms. Peter Lorge, a historian at Vanderbilt University, remarked, “Medieval Chinese armor did not change in response to firearms.” The fact is that armor capable of protecting against bullets was extremely expensive. It was only accessible to the wealthy. Commoners, who made up the vast majority of Chinese armies, could not afford such costly protection.